I Met Austin Walking the Streets of Grants Pass

A man in his late 20s spoke openly with me about the Trinity

I saw his license plate was gold and blue letters—he was from Alaska.

I approached him, “So, are you from Ft. Rich or Elmendorf?”

He shot back, “I live closest to Rt. Rich.” An Army base right outside of Anchorage.

“Yeah,” we were starting to grin and what not, and I asked, “Whereabouts near Ft. Rich?”

He admitted, “Well, actually, I live out in the Valley.”

“You’re kidding me, right?...You’re kidding me?” I queried.

OK…fast forward the conversation about 20 minutes in…

I tried to open the conversation a little, “Austin, you’re an articulate man…I mean that…you obviously have done quite a bit of thinking about the Bible and what it teaches. But I want to try to get something out to you…and I don’t know if I can express it very clearly…so hang in here with me.”

I continued, “OK. Here goes. We, who are Protestants and profess the faith of Christianity that’s been believed down through the centuries, have always tried to leave faith as part of the Christian life. God is God. Man is man. The doctrine or the teaching point of the Trinity, that is, 1+1+1=1 requires faith…we are finite creatures.”

Austin jumped in, “Now wait a minute…the Bible tells us we can have accurate knowledge…we can know God, we can know Him, after all, we’re His children.”

“You’re right, Austin….I don’t mean to come across by saying that God is unknowable,” I said.

I went on, “There’s mystery. We have to leave some things to God…like….uh…like, OK, here’s one: like the Bible. Who wrote the Bible—God or man? Somehow God so worked in man that God used man….how…exactly how did God use man to write the Bible? I do not know…I leave room for mystery about that.”

I gave another example, “God is over all things—He’s made everything—and He, at the same time, is all around us.” I then said it this way, “God is up and God is down.”

Then I asked him, “How do we explain that God is both above us and right here with us at the exact same time?” I answered, “We trust Him by faith; we believe what He has said about His own existence—He’s King, who is over us (Austin liked that title for God, “King”), and at the same time, is right here active and in control of all things.”

Austin assessed things and said, “The Trinity doesn’t make sense.”

He went on, “What do you think of the baptism of Jesus…He’s a man…He talked to Jehovah (that’s the name we use)…. And…..what about the other times where the Son talked to God—you tell me, Mark: How does God talk to God?” He summarized, “We’re talking about two separate distinct beings—separate, different, individual.”

The sun was blaring down. He was standing beside his pick-up and was having to go. I was starting to get a little tied up in emotional knots.

I offered one more thing: “Austin, I realize that this is going to sound pretty high minded and philosophical and all, but let me give it shot….here goes: do you know that for us to have this conversation we are both having to assume the reality of the Bible’s teaching on the Christian doctrine of the Trinity? I know that sounds kind of out there. But it’s true. We are working at this conversation, right now, and we are able to have this conversation right now, because we are working with two assumptions. 1) We are two distinct, separate and individual persons. 2) We are one and the same in that we share humanity as God’s creatures, as men made in His image—we come from One Father and God of all.”

I asked him, “Austin, do you follow that?”

Austin kind of smiled.

I mentioned to him, “Think of it…. God is One and God is Three.”

I did not attempt to explain the co-existence, co-sharing of the co-eternal being of the Godhead—the equality of existence of the oneness of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

I attempted one more time. “Austin, your particular existence, your separate existence allows you to speak with me. And my distinct, separate existence allows me to think of things to say and then say them to you….Also, the only reason we can speak to one another and carry on a conversation is because we share aspects of sameness—we’re both creatures, we’re both seeking to communicate, we’re both dependent image-bearers of God, Who is the One from Whom we originate and live… We must make use of the doctrine of the Trinity for life to make sense, for us to be able to have this conversation…we are borrowing from the reality of God Who exists as One and Three—Unity and Diversity, Oneness and Particularity.”

We shook hands to wrap up the conversation—it was a good firm Alaskan handshake—he remains a Jehovah Witness. He listened well. He was patient. He was gracious. But Austin believes that Jesus Christ is a creature, a perfect man.

G. Mark Sumpter

Trivium Again

In Deuteronomy with Moses and his servant Joshua—see particularly Joshua 1:10-18

Grammar—Moses is given the Law, the Grammar for Israel’s knowledge of God and His ways. In a similar vein, Joshua receives the Law—not as Moses did on the Mountain; but he receives it as the Grammar of the Law—“do all that is written in it…” (Josh. 1:8a).

Dialectic—Moses explains the Law, that’s the Book of Deuteronomy. Usually, Bible teachers tell us that Deuteronomy is three sermons. That’s three times Moses going over the explanation of the Law to Israel and what it means for Israel’s life in the new Promised Land. Interestingly, Moses makes connections for the people between history (the past) and the future—a comparing and contrasting. In a similar vein, Joshua issues forth commandments—“Go… take…you shall possess as was promised….”; these are explanations and applications (…”Remember the word which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you….” Josh 1:13). Such things are the explanations of the Grammar to Israel as she readies to go across the Jordan R to go into the Promised Land. In Josh 1:10-18, Joshua explains the Lord’s plan to go into the land; and this explanation has as the backdrop the law and the Law-Giver (You shall have no other gods by Me…. ‘drive out the nations…..’), etc. etc.

Rhetoric—Moses died on Mt. Nebo (Duet 31), and before his death, Moses lays his hands on Joshua, transferring leadership and authority. Joshua then acts on the knowledge and understanding by taking on the mantle to stand in the place of his teacher. The rhetoric that Joshua displays comes by way of the people making the connections: 1) they see that the Grammar, what is written, will be followed with Joshua (Grammar w/ Moses; Grammar with Joshua); 2) Joshua commands the officers (Josh 1:10)…. and he explains what has been explained by Moses already----he reviews and applies….. The people listen: “just as we heeded Moses in all things, so we will heed you…”; and they acknowledge is persuasive ways… and see the Lord’s provision of knowledge, understanding and wisdom in Joshua… (“Only the LORD your God be with you, as He was with Moses…”). Last, note Joshua acting with the people to go over the Jordan R to take possession of Jericho and other cities. That is, Joshua practices and implements the commandments of God.

G. Mark Sumpter

The Important Place of Memorization for Children

Teaching Sunday School by Brian Freer (Evangelical Press, 1984)

If this little book were required reading for all Sunday School teachers in every church, our children would be the better for it. Freer writes out of the conviction that our Sunday School time must be used to its fullest potential, and he has taken the time to show us how that potential can best be reached. In the first three chapters, he very encouragingly expounds and illustrates the hope that we may have in teaching our children the Bible -- it is an exciting prospect indeed! In the remaining chapters he very carefully and clearly lays out principles and practical procedures for teachers to follow in order to achieve highest success in their work. He deals with everything from the church to the teacher to the lesson preparation to the delivery to the classroom experience. A very, very useful tool for the improvement of our Sunday School and the evangelization and edification of our children. Every church should by a copy this book for each of its teachers to read, re-read, and refer to regularly until its counsel is completely absorbed.

“There is great value in memorizing lessons and especially Scripture, even when the meaning is not fully comprehended at the time. Many children have learnt by rote passages of the Bible, or the questions, answers and proof texts of a catechism, without really understanding them. The truths learned have remained dormant for years. Unconsciously such knowledge has moulded their habits and attitudes, but, even more importantly, it has represented a golden store which has been tremendous benefit in later years, after they have been born again. Memorization is not the be-all and end-all of teaching, but it should have it place. If we cannot hide God’s Word in a child’s heart, at least we can attempt to hide it in his memory. To do this is like laying the paper and sticks for a coal fire and then placing on the dark coals. The fuel is ready and when it is eventually ignited what a blaze there will be! Men of previous generations were able to use Scriptures and preach sermons of great maturity within weeks or months of their conversion. How did they acquire such a facility? The answer is that they had the Scriptures already in store!” pp. 48-49

Retired reformed Baptist minister, Brian Freer underscores the work of parenting and teaching in our children’s nurture and evangelism; and specifically he addresses how kids are sponges. They soak up facts—the who, what, when and where—of Bible knowledge. They glory in facts. God has made them this way. We ought to take advantage of this. Facts guide. Facts inform. Facts are fuel. I read earlier today of the old Puritan William Gurnall, who said: “Knowledge may make thee a scholar, but not a saint; orthodox, but not gracious.” I disagree. Children—along with adults—learn the facts of Scripture, the scholarly stores of facts. They do so for saintly reasons. How? Jesus, for example, tells us before going to a brother to remove the offensive tooth-pick out his eye, we must first remove the offensive pile of lumber out of our own. That’s a fact; it’s a specific truth we’re to memorize, know, grasp—and be able to recall. Being grounded in the plain, surface points of Matthew 7:4-5 can preserve many from hardship in interpersonal squabbles. Facts of Scripture, such knowledge, guide in saintly ways.

As to more on children from Freer, I appreciate that he sees the role between the learning stages of Grammar and Rhetoric. He writes of young children storing away Scripture and catechetical doctrine—as fuel—and when the fire starts at later stages in life, they are ready. Did you catch that? He writes, “Men of precious generations were able to use Scriptures and preach sermons of great maturity within weeks or months of their conversion. How did they acquire such a facility? The answer is that they had the Scriptures already in store!” Students well prepared are those who have been grounded in the first level of learning—the grammar of knowledge; then, later they act on that knowledge—for understanding and wisdom.

G. Mark Sumpter

Playing Triple A Ball

Come again...What did you say?

What is God like? We say Triune (In one God there exists three Persons). We say Immanent (He is near). We say Transcendent (He is far). There are many times when what we say to express what God is like, we succeed!—we use Biblical terms and explanations coming from the Bible. We use terms and we readily understand.  Things hum along. When we do theology this way, we are using cataphatic speech—we say what we can say about God in appropriate ways: our grammar, comparisons and contrasts, and expressions are on target. On the other hand, there are times when we sputter. We know limitations of our grammar and expressions. When we search, when we grope, and when we’re in neck deep, we say things in an apophatic way—“well, let me tell you what I don’t mean… and that’s right too…..God isn’t like that either… and yes…you’re right again….. the Bible doesn’t mean that.” Sometimes our words do not quite pinpoint how to speak of God who is higher, greater, and loftier beyond our human comprehension. Here we say, “What I’m trying to say is He really is more unlike—He’s quite different—than this thing or idea in the world.”

“He is our rock (Psalm 18:2); and yet…. He’s not exactly a rock.”

Cataphatic—more positive words we use.

Apophatic—more negative words we use.

BIG terms—cataphatic expressions of God and apophatic expressions.

G. Mark Sumpter

Embracing History

What it takes to stay out of the trash bin

“Christianity is a historical religion. It is a religion that is not based primarily on an idea or philosophy. Most of the religions of the world can exist apart from their founder. You do not have to have a historical Buddha to have Buddhism. All you have to have are Buddhist teachings. So also with many other religions. This is not the case with Christianity. If you take away the history–if you reduce it, as some have tried to do, to a religion of mere ethics or ideas–Christianity evaporates. This is because Christianity is indissolubly linked to the life and accomplishments of Christianity’s founder. Jesus taught about God, but he did not merely teach. He showed what God was like. Then, in order to achieve our salvation, he died for us, taking our place to bear the wrath of God. Without that historical basis, Christianity would pass, as have many other religions, into the trash bin of history.” J.M. Boice in his commentary on The Book of Acts

History means that that Jesus lived in that area of the Mediterranean, said such and such—and lived, died, was buried and then rose from the dead on the third day. It was THAT Jesus—the Matthew-Mark-Luke-John-and-Acts One.

“…[We] need…a sure and certain knowledge of Jesus Christ and the salvation that comes through faith in him. We need to know what Jesus accomplished. We need to know the perfection of his virgin birth, the obedience of his sinless life, the wisdom of his profound teaching, and the power of his divine miracles. We need to know these things because they prove that he is the Son of God. And we need to know what Jesus did to save us from the wrath of God. We need to know that he suffered and died on the cross for our sins. We need to know that he was raised from the dead to give eternal life to all who trust in him. And we need to know that he was ascended to heaven, where he rules over all things for the glory of God. We need to know these things because sometimes we have our doubts…If we are sometimes tempted to have our doubts, this does not mean that we are not Christians. It simply means that we are sinners who struggle to live by faith…Assurance does not come by looking within or by having some special experience. The only way we become sure of our salvation is by looking to Jesus…Luke…wrote…researched things carefully and wrote them down logically and accurately, giving us the real history of Jesus.” Phil Ryken, Commentary on Luke (Reformed Expository Commentary), Volume 1, pp. 14-15.

G. Mark Sumpter

The Indicative and Imperative

Two steel marbles, continual motion

Does not the doctrine of the believer’s union with Christ, which expresses the indicative (what is declared), speak of the foundation out of which the imperative (God’s commands), flows?

John Calvin speaks of the foundation and flow this way (Institutes 3:11:1): “…unless you understand first of all what your position is before God, and what the judgment which he passes upon you, you have no foundation on which your salvation can be laid, or on which piety towards God can be reared.”

This foundation is union in our Savior. Piety and responsibility in godliness flow from it.

The indicative: statements in Scripture about who our God is and what He has done in Christ.

The imperative: statements in Scripture about the day to day will of God, His exhortations for obedience.

Relationship and Responsibility, the indicative and imperative, are the two steel marbles suspended on strings hanging from the coffee table wooden tri-pod, which, when one is pulled back and let go, swings down to smack the other one; they sway side to side in continual motion—now one, then the next. The biblical text is never stagnant, there’s the interplay of indicative instruction, then imperative exhortation; person, then work; relationship, then responsibility.

John 13 serves as an example.

John 13:1-13
Our union with Christ: He loved His own, He washed, He cleansed…
Our relationship in Him


John 13:14-17
Our communion with Christ: “you also ought to wash one another’s feet…”
Our responsibility in Him


INDICATIVE (relationship)                      IMPERATIVE (responsibility)


Genesis 1-2                                                       Genesis 2: 8-9, 15, 17-24

  
Genesis 3:1-5, 11                                             Genesis 3:6-10, 12-19


Genesis 3:20-4:2                                             Genesis 4:3-24

As we read the Bible, we give attention to the ebb and flow of these two interpretive points. They bounce off of one another. They are distinguishable, yet they have an inter-play.  


G. Mark Sumpter

Skateboarding with Rollo May

The Influence of Humanism Abounds, Watch Out

Back in 1969 and 70, I can remember riding my skateboard from Spenard, the airport area of Anchorage, to downtown. I guess I was probably 12 or 13. Usually it would be an early Saturday morning, obviously in the summer time.

I went downtown to browse the books at the Book Cache on 4th Avenue. I remember walking the aisles in the philosophy section and picking up Rollo May. I really didn’t follow his presentation much, but I liked his pithy quotes. For some reason I was drawn to sentimental, gooey philosophy and psychology. It’s a bit stunning to think what influences 12 and 13 year olds.

Here are some of his quotes from the internet.

Care is a state in which something does matter; it is the source of human tenderness. Rollo May

Communication leads to community, that is, to understanding, intimacy and mutual valuing. Rollo May

Courage is not the absence of despair; it is, rather, the capacity to move ahead in spite of despair. Rollo May

Depression is the inability to construct a future. Rollo May

Freedom is man's capacity to take a hand in his own development. It is our capacity to mold ourselves. Rollo May

Hate is not the opposite of love; apathy is. Rollo May

Wikipedia informs us that May graduated from Union Theological Seminary of New York in 1938 with a Bachelor of Divinity. So, his later psychology stems from mixtures of religion and philosophy. Union has reeked with humanism since the days of the German critical influence on its Bible department (1870s-1890s). What does this mean? Essentially, the Bible is a product of the human mind.

Theologian Paul Tillich, one of Rollo May’s teachers at Union, for example, taught that the physical, bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ is impossible, but the story of Christ rising from the dead restores dignity to Him. After all, remember all the good things Jesus did. It makes a useful, helpful conclusion to His story. Good feelings and human concerns get a measure of satisfaction if in your mind His rising from the dead is true. People of this sort think it to be true, and so, if it’s true in your mind, put your thoughts down into a story. That’s what the apostles did, Tillich taught.

The apostles had lived with Jesus for the three years. When He was arrested, crucified and buried in the tomb they knew Him as He was. So, in order to have the dignity of Christ restored in their own thinking, and in order to have a message for the world around them, the apostles produced gospels and letters (the NT).

Writing the stories about Jesus was good, and it was a help with the concerns, anxieties and needs of the apostles. It is theology based on feeling, not statements of historical truth.

If you go back over the quotes by May, you’ll see this liberal theology unpinning. May wants to weave personal quests, adventure and purpose into humanitarian effort, being wishful and hopeful. It’s about getting more and more into yourself in order to find a story that satisfies your anxieties. It’s meaning found within.

So, back there at that time in Anchorage, a 12 or 13 year old was poking a nose into some of Rollo May’s writings trying to find answers to anxieties and concerns.

Man too readily looks inward for help. There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. Proverbs 16:25.

G. Mark Sumpter

Words in the Sandbox

Metaphors Be With You

“Chinese, just like American English, has its own unique metaphorical idioms. The Chinese, however, do not view their world as a game. And so sport is not a dominant metaphor in China.What is central to Chinese life is family and eating. So while in America politicians are compared to sportsmen—they have to run for and win the election; politicians in China are regarded as parents, fumu guan, meaning father-mother officials. Chinese politicians run their country as a mother and father run their family. No wonder that in Chinese, the word for country is guojia, which literally means: guo = state—jia = family. The famous Chinese thinker Lao Zi (Lao Tzu) stated that ruling a large country is like cooking a delicacy dish. While Americans may view their life as business, Chinese view theirs in terms of eating.” HT: Ninah Beliavsky at the Department of Languages & Literature, St. John’s University, New York

The metaphorical jargon we hear relative to President Obama's fatherly care, “Who's Your Daddy?,” makes a little more sense, doesn't it? Mr. President, as dad, will bring the bacon home and provide enough for all.

G. Mark Sumpter