Thanksgiving At SCCS

Last night the Scott City Christian School had their annual Thanksgiving Dinner. The kids did a great job performing. Who knew Steven could play the trumpet? At one point he bobbled a note and gave a Gonzo look (if you remember, Gonzo's bong never actually bonged, and it drove him crazy.)

Giving thanks in the Tradition of the Pilgrims is something we take seriously here. We firmly believe as they did, it is by God's Providence and purpose that we have the many blessings that we do. God could have destroyed all of man. Instead, God sees that what He originally made was good and has decided to redeem and restore all things in Christ.

Anyway, here are a couple of pictures.

Christian Movie Makers Stuck On An Island

Art is an interesting topic, especially for Christians. What is appropriate, and what is not? Is there a Christian horror genre? Fantasy movies like the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe verses Harry Potter can lead to quite a debate. Debates are good things, and the discussions on the White Horse Inn several weeks ago were even better.

Listen to Michael Horton interview Scott Derrickson about a movie by "Sony Pictures, The Exorcism of Emily Rose." Michael Horton also does a two-part interview with another screen writer Brian Godawa. Click here for part one and part two.

I first realized just how many movies that are made that never make it to the wider general public when Focus On The Family interviewed Mel Gibson. I hope that instead of the really bad movies like Left Behind (I know I went on a limb saying that), we will instead get movies like Signs and other more gospel oriented movies that could actually be considered art (yes, I realize Signs was not a movie particularly about the gospel). Perhaps another movie about Tom Hanks being stuck on an island would be better than some of the Christian stuff that is out there.

I agree with the point that Christians, who make movies, should not feel the need to be stuck to the idea that in order for a movie to be Christian, somebody has to pray the "sinner's prayer" underneath some golden tree. Perhaps those movies have their place, but Christian art should cover more than the fundamentalist island they are stranded on.

Adrian Rogers Dies

World Net Daily is reporting via Florida Baptist Witness that Adrian Rogers has passed away this morning. Adrian Rogers was a pastor within the Southern Baptist denomination He was also President of the SBC Convention for 3 terms. He was founder of Love Worth Finding Ministries.

The SBC conservative resurgence was lead by several ministers including Dr. Rogers. History will judge just how big that movement was, and if it will be sustained. But Dr. Rogers saw it for what it was at the time it happened. Although to compare it to the Council of Nicea may be a bit of a stretch, it was indeed historic.

I personally have benefitted from Dr. Rogers over the years despite his anti-Calvinistic preaching at the end of his ministry. When I first heard his preaching years ago, I was moved at his ability to communicate God's truth to me. He was a great man of God and will be sorely missed.

Preaching As a Means of Grace To Persevere

I have often thought about preaching as the means by which God calls sinners to His Son’s Kingdom. I have often thought of preaching as the means of “awakening” God’s church. I even thought of preaching as a means by which God’s people are encouraged. John Piper adds another thought:

“Gravity in preaching is appropriate because preaching is God’s appointed means for the conversion of sinners, the awakening of the church, and the preservation of the saints.”

And again:

“It [preaching] is God’s appointed means of keeping them secure….He calls effectually by the Word and He keeps effectually by the Word.”

I have never quite thought of preaching that way. I agree that the doctrine of justification is a past action that is fully complete. Because of its completeness, I am fully justified today. In the same way, preaching was the means by which I was saved, but it is also God’s Word, which keeps me.

We as God’s people need to hear the called man of God preach the Word of God. It is the means of Grace by which God has chosen to save and preserve His people. Tomorrow morning, I will look forward to Lynne’s message with a whole new enthusiasm. I expect to hear God call me to persevere. It is His means of preserving me.

After many years of struggle and a horrendous loss a year ago, my brother and his wife finally brought home Joshua and Lillian. The one Danni is holding is Joshua (I think), and the other is Lillian. God has been good, and He finally brought home a family.

Who Is Really Being Consistent?

Before I offer a critique of our Local New Times Editorialist's weekly left-wing editorial, I want to weigh in quickly on the 9th Circus' ruling. Yes, we all know by now that they ruled the government has the right to educate your children the way they see fit. We should not be surprised by that. They are a bunch of left-wing nut cases.

What really bothers me is that everyone misses the obvious. What else is a State run school supposed to do? If the foundation for the modern public school system is that the State is the Almighty and that parents do not have a God-given right and command to educate their children, what other conclusion could they possibly have come to?

Let me put it another way. When the Rod Haxtons of Scott City grow up with the idea that only the State can possibly give an education to every person, when the State has taxing power so that the people have no real choice, when the left wing intellectual snobs assume that its citizens must be stupid since they didn't vote for them, when left wing social engineers believe only they should have the power to educate, why are we so surprised when the public schools act the way they do?

Ninety-nine percent of school related cases that appear before the Supreme Court usually have to do with some separation of Church and State conflict. Why do you think this is? The answer is obvious. Anyone with an ounce of thought should see that whoever controls education, controls the religious beliefs of its people.

So many children believe in God and at the same time behave as if he doesn't exist. Have you ever thought why? So many people today think in contradictory terms. Have you ever thought why? I believe that Americans may be the most schizophrenic people in the world.

We need to get back to a God centered world view. If we do not repent and change how we think, we may very well see the day our children perish for lack of Biblical knowledge. Truth is, the left in this country are being more consistent than Christians. In fact, this decision by the Ninth Circus may be the most thoughtful decision to come down from any left-wing court.

Power of the Son To Save?

Since I mentioned that 2 Peter 3:9 speaks of God’s will in salvation, I thought I would go to an even clearer text. John gives us one of the most wonderful assurance passages in all of Scripture, that being John chapter 6:37-40. This passage takes salvation out of man’s control in every way and places salvation squarely in God’s hands.

The text reads:

“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day."

Jesus speaks of the Father’s will. He defines what He means by will in these particular verses. The will of the Father is that everyone that He gives to the Son will be raised up on the last day. In other words, everyone that the Father gives to the Son will be saved.

So Jesus comes into the World to save these people. This is not some cosmic accident. It is not just some mere happenstance that men come to Christ. Christ came to save the people that come to Him.

Why do men come to Christ? They come because the Father gave them to the Son. They do not come against their will as some malign Calvinists as believing. They come because the Father has given them. Therefore, Jesus never turns away a man or woman that comes to Him because it is God’s will that He save them.

This passage is so simple and compelling I am always amazed at how men turn it on its head. Philosophical traditions become very powerful at this point. When the Dr. Norman Geislers and Adrianne Rogers are able to interpret this passage in the same fashion that my high school students do in order to avoid the painfully obvious, a clear sign of Tradition clouds the eyes.

Some conclusions must be drawn from a discourse of Jesus’ such as this, if we are going to follow modern evangelicalism. Either (a) Jesus saves everyone if everyone is given by the Father to the Son, or (b) Jesus fails to save millions of men whom the Father has given (if in fact the Father has given everyone), or (c) those who come of their own free-will are the ones given by the Father.

If (a), then you are a universalist. Everyone will be saved. This leads to far more questions than answers. If (b), then you must deny the power of the Son of God to fulfill the will of the Father. Jesus’ death falls to the ground due to the almighty will of man. This is what most evangelicals believe without realizing it.

Or perhaps (c) is your conclusion. This conclusion violates simple grammar. It also places salvation back into the hands of men. This denies the overall clear statements of Christ. It also robs any assurance whatsoever. If I can come to Christ by my own free will, what is to keep me from ever losing salvation? You may respond by saying once we come to Christ “we would never go back” as someone once said to me. My question is why? Those are just the words of men. How do you know?

This leads to another question. After the Coming of Christ and His Kingdom is established, what prevents sin from ever coming back? Is there no free-will in heaven’s Kingdom?

We should be willing to consider the obvious. The Father has given a people to the Son. The Son has all the power needed to accomplish the will of God.

Mohler Verse Patterson

I guess I should check my email just a little more often. I just read that Al Mohler (President of SBTS) and Paige Petterson will be debating Calvinism at the SBC Pastors conference. I can't imagine Patterson even stepping in the room with Mohler in a debate format. Mohler could convince a mouse he is really an elephant. Then again, will Mohler just be a nice guy and not call Patterson on the matt for the ridiculous things he has said. Perhaps this is just some kind of discussion of "Can't we just get along?" I guess we'll see. When I get more information, I'll post it here.

Soli Deo Gloria

God Is Patient

Since I have started an overall topic of the anti-Calvinism crusade among Southern Baptist Church leaders, I figured I'll just keep going. The Dividing Line was playing some clips of Adrianne Rogers speaking to a college group about the dangers of Calvinism. The idea that God wants to save every person ever, but He just can't because man has a "will" which is assumed to be free (Rogers uses 2 Peter 3:9). The moment someone attempts to debunk this man-made, philosophical idea, he is immediately charged with making God to be a mean and evil tyrant, who is unloving at best.

Emotionalism begins to take over many conversations when dealing with God's Sovereignty. I remember several years ago a pastor and his wife used the 2 Peter 3:9 argument to show that God desires every person ever to be saved and is waiting and hoping for us to come. When I used the text itself and showed what the text really meant, I was seen as a mean Calvinist that doesn't want to share the love of God. So in essence, personal, emotional, man-made philosophies and traditions took over the conversation.

It is true that God commands men everywhere to repent and believe in Jesus. This is God's will of command. Dr. Rogers uses emotionally driven examples of rape being against God's will. Therefore men have the ability to resist God's Will. Therefore God's will can be frustrated. Is 2 Peter 3:9 really about God commanding men?

I suggest that the text itself argues against that point. In fact, if you simply follow the pronouns "us" verses "them", you will see that this is not God hoping men will be saved, but God actually being patient with His people. This is showing that God uses means to bring about the salvation of His people, and this takes time.

It also shows that God has people from every generation, from every language, from every nation and tribe and people that He desires to save. He will not fail to do so. I thank God He was patient with me. Perhaps He may be patient with many we are praying for as well.

God accomplishes everything He sets out to do. That is His Will. Do men resist His will of command? Yes. Do men resist His secret purposes? No. Did God command men to murder His Son? No, He did not. Was it His secret will that the Cross should happen? Yes, it was. So the Adrianne Rogers of the SBC need to be a little more careful before they go emotionalizing texts. God is the Creator of everything, including every event in history. That is His Will.

Soli Deo Gloria

We Got Cousins!

Well, those of you who know about my brother's great loss of the Triplets last year will be blessed to know that he now has twins. Joshua and Lilian were born this afternoon. Joshua was 6 pounds 4 oz, and Lillian weighed 6 pounds 1 oz.. Both are 20 inches tall.

So the Fishers in Massachusetts and the Fishers in Kansas are celebrating the Lord's goodness and mercy. We have been praying a long time for these two. It will truly be great to see the Lord deliver them all the way home.

Soli Deo Gloria