Calvin on the Rocks

McNeill Edition of the Institutes, p. 255 A Calvin Crack-Up

MAN HAS NOW BEEN DEPRIVED OF FREEDOM AND CHOICE...

“The Perils of this topic: point of view established, I

1. We have now seen that the dominion of sin, from the time it held the first man bound to itself, not only ranges among all mankind, but also completely occupies individual souls. It remains for us to investigate more closely whether we have been deprived of all freedom since we have been reduced to this servitude; and, if any particle of it still survives, how far its power extends. But in order that the truth of this question may be more readily apparent to us, I shall presently set a goal to which the whole argument should be directed. The best way to avoid error will be to consider the perils that threaten man on both sides. (1) When man is denied all uprightness, he immediately takes occasion for complacency from that fact; and, because he is said to have no ability to pursue righteousness on his own, he holds all such pursuit to be of no consequence, as if it did not pertain to him at all. (2) Nothing, however slight, can be credited to man without depriving God of his honor, and without man himself falling into ruin through brazen confidence. Augustine points out both these precipices.”

Sumpter: Do you get what J.C. is saying? Two points of a dilemma. 1) You tell man he is broken, crushed, rebellious and tied up in knots, dead in sin—an altogether true biblical maxim. Man, then, says, “what gives…why try for God then?...it’s all doubt, so let’s sack out… I’m done, wake me up when it’s over….” To reverse paraphrase Robert Schuller, old Crystal Cathedral Bobby, of the 80s, “Since man is all scars, then, forget the stars.” That’s dilemma side one. Now, 2. If you tell men about seeking God; if you grab a kettle and metal spoon and start clanging into the tomb and Lazarus rolls over and hits the snooze button to get up and listen for the VOICE, then----you give man some brownie points. He’ll say, “Look, the water is not that bad after all… and….. “Look Mom, no hands…” or “Whadda mean depravity…I can hear the voice of God blindfolded with one hand tied behind my back….” J. C. says, give man an eyelash of self-generated strength and he’ll take the industrial strength biceps of Ray Lewis of the Ravens for good-credit, heaven-bound righteousness …. “…nothing can be credited to man without depriving God of his honor.”

So how does Calvin fix the problem?

“Here, then, is the course that we must follow it we are to avoid crashing upon these rocks: when man has been taught that no good thing remains in his power, and that he is hedged about on all sides by most miserable necessity, in spite of this he should be instructed to aspire to a good of which he is empty, to a freedom of which he has been deprived.”

Preach man’s utter depravity, and that his will is bound. Preach that he aspire to which he is empty, to a freedom he doesn’t have.

So, YES—preach depravity and duty. Men must be told, you are D.O.A., and they must be told, “Come forth!” and “Get up, the Master is calling for you.”

I crack-up—it’s no dilemma with Calvin. Aspire to a good of which you are empty, O Man. You have nothing, so there and ninner, ninner; come to Christ!

G. Mark Sumpter

Mercy Motivations--Kingdom and Church, II

New Creation Mercy

Where God exerts his rule through his Word and Spirit, the effects of sin are healed. Thus the kingdom is like a great banquet (Matthew 22:2) and is a state of total fulfillment of blessedness (Matthew 5:3, 10). This healing is always partial, because the kingdom is not fully come, yet this healing is substantial, because the kingdom is already present.


Edmund Clowney writes that kingdom evangelism must have a holistic focus:

“The renewal of Christ’s salvation ultimately includes a renewed universe… there is no part of our existence that is untouched by His blessing. Christ’s miracles were miracles of the kingdom, performed as signs of what the kingdom means…His blessing was pronounced upon the poor, the afflicted, the burdened and heavy-laden who came to Him and believed in Him…The miraculous signs that attested Jesus’ deity and authenticated the witness of those who transmitted the gospel to the church is not continued, for their purpose was fulfilled. But the pattern of the kingdom that was revealed through those signs must continue in the church…Kingdom evangelism is therefore holistic as it transmits by word and deed the promise of Christ for body and soul as well as demand of Christ for body and soul.” [from a chapter, “Kingdom Evangelism,” by Clowney, found in the book The Pastor-Evangelist (edited by Roger Greenway, 1987]

More from the book by Timothy J. Keller, Ministries of Mercy.


A man’s hands were wrapped to protect himself—he looked like a boxer with gauze and tape around his knuckles—and he was on a bed lying hemmed in, much like a large tent, with a mesh of nylon netting. He only moaned as I spoke with him. I read Psalm 23 to him this past Thursday—and he brightened up. I reflected with him on the Lord’s shepherding mercies. I spoke. He moaned. I prayed. He moaned. He didn’t/he couldn’t make eye contact with me. But his countenance told me that he was listening. I ministered with him for about 20-25 minutes. God’s providences are always gift-wrapped. Holistic gifts, encircling both body and soul, encompassing word and deed, are the ones that present the incarnation to us. God spoke out Himself; God enfleshed Himself. Word and deed, holistic stuff...a new creation already on the way.  


G. Mark Sumpter

Mercy Motivations--Kingdom and Church

Game-Changing Mercy

The kingdom of God is power, God’s ruling power present to heal all the curse of sin. It moves the people of God to meet psychological, social physical needs, bringing God’s kingly blessing as far as the curse if found.

“If I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Matthew 12:28).

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted” (Luke 12:32-33).


Francis Schaeffer has shown us that, because the kingdom is present partially, but not fully, we must expect substantial healing, but not total healing in all areas of life.


Quoted from Timothy J. Keller, Ministries of Mercy , p. 53

Substantial healing; ministries of mercy, even tiny steps, are weighty, influential, noticeable, and game-changers. THAT is doing the works of repentance, seen, for instance, from the preaching of John the Baptist.

G. Mark Sumpter

Spanning the globe to bring you the constant variety of sport…

Ice Hockey shows up in the strangest of... 

BETHLEHEM, West Bank — The annual cleaning of one of Christianity’s holiest churches deteriorated into a brawl between rival clergy Wednesday, as dozens of monks feuding over sacred space at the Church of the Nativity battled one another with brooms until police intervened.

Wednesday’s fight erupted between Greek Orthodox and Armenian clergy, with both sides accusing the other of encroaching on parts of the church to which they lay claim.

Denver Post wire services

G. Mark Sumpter

Launching T-Shirts at Halftime

Formality in worship

PCA Pastor Jeff Meyers, while writing about the propriety and significance of calling-garb for the pastor, comments on formality in worship. He persuasively wows the reader; he reminds me of the T-Shirt Cannon guys at halftime. Good, fun stuff.

“Since for Americans there is often an in-built negative reaction to any mention of formality in worship, let us turn briefly to Hebrews 12 and Revelation 4-5. Hebrews 12:22-24 describes a New Covenant (contrasted with the Old Covenant worship of vss. 18-21) corporate, Lord’s Day worship service. When the church gathers on the Lord Day she enters into heaven (by faith) to worship God with all of the angelic host and departed saints. It is as if the roof of the church building is torn off when the pastor calls the people to worship. Notice that the worshipers are all organized around the throne of God. The worship service does not merely provide an opportunity for private devotional experiences. The church is a ‘city’ and a ‘joyous assembly’ or ‘festal array’ (v. 22). The word translated ‘festal assembly’ denotes an assembly of people gathered for a celebration or festival. Later, when we are privileged with the Apostle John in the book of Revelation to peek into heaven, how is the worship conducted? What kind of worship is modeled for us in heaven? There are all kinds of liturgical lessons to be learned here. I only wish to highlight one aspect: the heavenly service is liturgical and formal. According to Revelation 4-5, heavenly worship is a formal, coordinated activity. There are cooperative, formal responses by groups of worshipers. Everybody responds together with the same words. There are no individual displays of spirituality. Angels, elders, and creatures respond antiphonally with responses that must have been learned! They have been trained. There is a pre-arranged form to the worship. They have rehearsed this event, and they are dressed accordingly (Rev. 4:4). In other words, heavenly, Spirit-guided worship is liturgical and formal (1 Cor. 14:26-33).”

G. Mark Sumpter

Scoring Points for Traditional Hymnody

What’s great at Christmastime can be great 48 other Sundays

At the Christmas season, traditional hymnody—it’s words and musical genre—scores big. For about 30 calendar days, traditional, even some really old, hymnody rebounds in worship-life and society. People show that they actually like the old stuff.

Maybe this is one way to be more strategic in recruiting worshipers from within the contemporary side of the evangelical and reformed. It’s time to do a little CARPE DIEM. Here are some good vibes at Advent, musically speaking.

Generations Hold Hands: elementary age kids, very young children, 14 year olds, 25 year olds— goateed and lip piercings to-boot—stand next to 69 year olds, those still sporting wire frame bifocals, and they’ll work their way through five lines of #221 Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming. If you look close, they’re holding a hymn book too. They appear dialed in with gratitude. Carols bring about the pleasant wrapped-up gift of the church being the church—young, old, wide, narrow, rich, and poor. Knuckles and high fives.

Sweat on the Brow is No Biggie: At Christmas we don’t mind having to work at our singing. In our worship age, when we’re told about KISS—Keep It Simple Songwriter, at Advent we’re not afraid of fancy notes, awkward beats, and funny syllables. “The shepherds at those tidings re-joice-ED much in mind…” How odd. I wonder if Chris Tomlin uses re-joice-ED in contemporary expression? At Christmas, that doesn’t scare us, and that’s good. I still struggle with the line in O Come All Ye Faithful, the one, “very God, begotten, not created.” I have to work at this line every time we come to it. The timing with the syllables freaks me. But our willingness to work at freaky beats and syllables is good. We see that people don’t mind going over and over a tune to get it right. Maybe once Christmastime is over we can make use of our willingness to be patient and work on singing skills. If people are showing that they’re not afraid of elbow grease, let’s go for it. Whistle while you work—on more difficult traditional worship music.

Use the Principle of Reinforcement: If you go to the malls and over to the hospital, and turn on the radio, and attend the Christmas programs...and—even open a Hallmark Card, you’ll get reinforcement of traditional hymnody-like carols. The principle of reinforcement should cue us. Pastor, Worship Leader: do you want a shot at seeing your people grow in their singing? Discipleship centers on familiarity, recognition and re-play. Once again—here’s hope for traditional worship music. Finding ways for traditional hymns to be piped into ears and hearts is key. If God’s people hear it enough, they’ll grow to love it. Christmas proves this.

If only it was Christmastime every Sunday.

G. Mark Sumpter

Horton's Do Hard Things as Part of the Rebelution

Michael Horton Showing the Way in Youth Ministry

“The year I was twelve things began to change in my life—not all at once, but gradually. I had been involved in family devotions and Bible reading, but suddenly the Bible sprang to life for me. The book of Romans began to shatter many of my earlier notions about reality. Every time I read from Romans I found myself searching for a deeper understanding of God’s purpose and grace.

After playing baseball each afternoon, I would come home, and pick up Romans, and go through it again and again. What I found in Romans had me mesmerized, and I began to share my discoveries with anyone who would listen.

My parents were owners of a nursing home, so I had a ready-made congregation. I began conducting weekly services that lasted, with brief interruptions, for six years (up to my senior year in high school). People who were not even residents attended the services to hear about God’s effective grace.”

From Horton’s Mission Accomplished, pp. 13-14

Young people are the church of today, not merely the church of tomorrow.

G. Mark Sumpter

Getting the Gospel Right and Then Some

When the Church Goes Her Specious Way

From the late Vaclav Havel (written in 1978): “Ideology is a specious way of relating to the world. It offers human beings the illusion of an identity, of dignity, and of morality while making it easier for them to part with them. As the repository of something suprapersonal and objective, it enables people to deceive their conscience and conceal their true position and their inglorious modus vivendi, both from the world and from themselves. It is a very pragmatic but, at the same time, an apparently dignified way of legitimizing what is above, below, and on either side. It is directed toward people and toward God. It is a veil behind which human beings can hide their own fallen existence, their trivialization, and their adaptation to the status quo. It is an excuse that everyone can use, from the greengrocer, who conceals his fear of losing his job behind an alleged interest in the unification of the workers of the world, to the highest functionary, whose interest in staying in power can be cloaked in phrases about service to the working class. The primary excusatory function of ideology, therefore, is to provide people, both as victims and pillars of the post-totalitarian system, with the illusion that the system is in harmony with the human order and the order of the universe. . . ”

This quote, relayed by OPC Pastor Roger Wagner just after Havel’s recent death, stirs. Below, I do not discount the importance of a Christian’s understanding of Havel’s societal and political assessments—his fine assessments and comments I will add, but I pitch a point or two with respect to ideology as a specious way of relating to the church. The church, too, sports herself all things political. The traditionally reformed, confessional church must be aware of how she can situate herself in the grip of the deception per Havel's commentary.

Let’s do some work.

First, church history shows us that ideology is spelled g-n-o-s-t-i-c-i-s-m.

Preservation

The Security of the Believer

The door of Christian assurance and perseverance turns on the hinge of preservation. Preservation rises up out of a text like John 10:27-29, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand.”

Can you get anymore industrial strength of seat-belt security than the powerful and preserving work of the hands of the Son and the Father? Sit and spin, Christian. God holds fast His children where they will never perish. Never. In the 1970s Deep Purple sung of a threat:

Frank Zappa and the Mothers

Were at the best place around

    But some stupid with a flare gun

 Burned the place to the ground

But, uh-uh—the threat of a raging fire will the never happen to the “gambling house” of the Christian. No raging fire around the Lake Geneva of the life of the one who rests in God’s promises. Texts like John 10, conveyed by Calvin and Calvin’s Calvinism, teach security and comfort. No burning, no perishing of the Christian. Preservation.

The Christian’s perseverance turns on the hinge of preservation.

G. Mark Sumpter

Ever Had to Choose a Bible Study Guide?

Some Helps on How to Choose a Study Guide

Here’s my take; admittedly, I give focus to the guide’s content:

1. Each guide or help or commentary will have strengths and weaknesses.

2. Picking through the strengths and the weaknesses becomes a task.

3. It is work having to evaluate everything we read or hear. We wish we could relax about this.


4. It is a worthy goal to learn from brothers and sisters with whom we do not share every word and point of doctrine.

5. Maybe these are the top areas and questions to keep in mind (as I write these, I assume the author of the guide believes the Bible is the inerrant, inspired Word of God):

a) Does the Bible Study guide or commentary show a fairly consistent approach to appreciating the unity of the Old and New Testaments? Does it show that the New fulfills the Old? The New builds off of the Old?


b) Does this appreciation for the unity of the Bible give a focus to the person and work of Jesus Christ? Does it work with the themes of God’s redemption? These themes are: God is at the center glorifying Himself—Father to Son, Son to Father, Spirit to Father and Son—by His power, wisdom and love in and with His creation and all His creatures; That His covenant and Kingdom show His rule and grace; That His Word calls for faith and trust in Him through an appointed leader, a representative (mediator); That Christ is being presented more and more from Genesis moving into the New Testament as the One who is the fulfillment of promises, hope and joy as the believer’s Mediator; That we, as believers, are bound together in Christ with privileges and responsibilities—to worship and serve as the Church; That God is the Judge over all; That the Gospel triumphs over sin, death, hell and the devil. Themes. Does the study guide help you to see themes?


c) Is there a consistent message that Jesus Christ is the way of salvation for sinners? That faith alone in Christ alone has focus? Is the study material following the doctrines of God’s grace—T.U.L.I.P.?


d) Is there a consistent reminder that believers are to live out of their spiritual union—their spiritual oneness—with Christ? Do you read or hear, “Christian, be who you are in Christ…….obey God’s commandments motivated by and supplied by the grace of God in Jesus Christ—that He is your life and strength and confidence”?

e) Is there an appreciation for the church being central as the primary form and example of God’s way of i) ruling, ii) providing for, and iii) being involved in the world? We know He is Lord over all men and things. One important way that we learn of this is through His dealings with His church. When we approach things this way, we grow in our appreciation for the local church. This is what is meant when we say that the church provides cues for the world. When the church is showing proper, faithful leadership, then the world has an example to follow. When the church is providing for and caring for one another, the world learns about providing for and caring for others. The church is a model of God’s kingdom. The church’s centrality is upheld.

f) Ethical application issues in a study guide—where am I weak? Proud? Troubled? Rebellious? Poor example? Making gains? Where is the church weak? Proud? Troubled? Rebellious? A Poor example? Making gains? Etc.

Studies and commentaries will move in and out of these points. We, as teachers and leaders, should aim to see these things in a Bible passage. When we use a study guide keeping these points in mind, we’ll be seeing more of a well-rounded approach to opening and using God’s Word.

G. Mark Sumpter

The Sequence of Narrative and Song

Lessons Based on Lyrics

The sequence of narrative story and then lyrical poetry, the songs of the saints, should get our attention in the Bible. There’s Exodus 14, narrative; Exodus 15, lyrics; then, Judges 4, narrative; Judges 5, lyrics. You get the same in Luke 1-2; likely you have it at Philippians 1:12-2:4 and Philippians 2:5-11, and then with Revelation closing out the New Testament, there is the lyrical emphases of 5:12-13; 7:12; 11:17; 14:3; 15:3.

Do you see the tag-you’re-it sequence? First, story and then song; the singing provides the interpretation, commentary and explanation of the story. Do you want to learn theology? Then learn to sing the songs of the psalms, hymns and spiritual songs (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16).

We have the tendency to see the narrative—and didactic—as the stopping place for theology. The Bible rightly points us to lyrics, poetry and figures in song to drive home the lessons of the story.

G. Mark Sumpter

Quick Take on When Sinners Say I Do

Boiling Water, Where's  the Tortellini


“Many marriage problems could move toward resolutions if husband and wife actually lived as if they were ‘sinners’ who said ‘I do.’ Sinners who are humble are growing more knowledgeable about their hearts.”

I skimmed a couple of the chapters; after reading the rest, I paused at many of them attempting to catch the author's message. I definitely say here's a solid piece to recommend to pastors, elders, counselors—most assuredly, to those preparing for marriage, for those married. The focus, patterned after the title, “When SINNERS,” aims at helping readers carry out necessary self-examination regarding one's own unquestioned contribution to messy relationships.

The vivid word pictures by Harvey color his illustrations.... “...couples can treat confrontation like a hand grenade--pop the pin, let it fly, and run for cover. But biblical reproof is not some kind of commando raid.” Here's another... [on the matter of an exchange when the husband interferes with his wife's plans already made; words like]: “Dear, could you... become his fingernails on the chalkboard of your [her] agenda for the day?” These are fun.

My biggest negative about the book circles around Harvey's bringing the reader’s knowledge of his sin to a boil. The pan is on the stove, the water is boiling—so very good; but I was waiting for the pasta to be added, and then the browning of the meat, the simmer of the butter and veggies, with the seasoning mix of the person and work of Jesus Christ, who is Lord and Savior. I wanted him to prepare a winsome, biblical dish with the doctrine of the sinner's union and communion with Jesus. We get the chapter on STUBBORN GRACE, Harvey's work on Titus 2:11-14; but where’s Being Raised in Him, Being a Sinner Seated w/ Christ and more. My concern is like what another author said about the absence of good, popularly written books on the doctrine of Christ's life, death and resurrection, something like..., “the professing church suffers from Ascension Deficit Disorder.” Harvey's positions, thesis and practical helps would look like a Major League MVP homerun champ if he knocked the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ, His fruit for the believer, out of the park. When Sinners Say I Do calls for counter-balance of When the Savior Said I Did.


—G. Mark Sumpter