Tried With Fire

This past weekend, we were blessed to have Dr. William VanDoodewaard speak at our annual theology conference - The Marrow of Salvation. The title makes reference to "The Marrow of Modern Divinity," a 17th century English book that caused a controversy in Scotland 50 years later. Why does this old book written by a dead guy and argued over by more dead guys matter to us? I'm glad you asked, and I will answer the question by giving a snippet of each talk. Session 1 - This session was about the book itself. The Marrow was written to help the reader find the middle ground between the 2 ditches of legalism and antinomianism. It was written in the form of a dialogue between a legalist, an antinomian, a new believer, and a minister. This book was recommended by the official government censor and went through several reprintings. Then why the controversy? The Presbyterian church in Scotland in the early 1700's began to drift away from the gospel of free grace in Christ in...

The Gospel, is as much to say, in our tongue, as Good Tidings: like as every one of these sentences be—  Christ is the Saviour of the world. Christ is our Saviour. Christ died for us. Christ died for our sins. Christ offered himself for us. Christ bear our sins upon his back. Christ bought us with his blood. Christ wash us with his blood. Christ came in the world to save sinners. Christ came in the world to take away our sins. Christ was the price that was given for us and for our sins. Christ was made debtor for our sins. Christ hath paid our debt, for he died for us. Christ hath made satisfaction for us and for our sin. Christ is our righteousness. Christ is our wisdom. Christ is our sanctification. Christ is our redemption. Christ is our satisfaction. Christ is our goodness. Christ hath pacified the Father of Heaven. Christ is ours, and all his. Christ hath delivered us from the law, from the devil, and hell. The Father of Heaven hath forgiven us...

On Sunday, John Freeman from HarvestUSA spoke at the evening service. It was a very encouraging message on the call to holiness in every area of our lives and how the gospel makes this possible. HarvestUSA's ministry specifically addresses issues of sexual brokenness, so this brother has seen what the grace of God can do. When my daughter and I were discussing the service afterward, I mentioned that his talk reminded me of Thomas Chalmer's sermon, The Expulsive Power of a New Affection ,  in which love for God displaces the love for idols. But she surprised me by saying that we need to be careful because this could be misunderstood. I asked her to explain and she replied - Our love for God does not change us. It is the God whom we love who changes us. (Mic drop.) Make no mistake, Chalmers doesn't get this wrong at all, but I can see why she expressed this caution. As a child of Adam, I am hardwired by the covenant of works to "do this and live." But because ...

A badger stands beside the trap he is supposed to be in I'm at Out of the Ordinary today, and I'm riffing off of Melissa's previous post. When we compare ourselves to one another, it can cut both ways. "In Monday's  post , Melissa accurately described the stress of " keeping up with the Joneses ." Based on the reader response, many of us could relate to the notion that we would be better Christian women if we did [fill in subject] or copied [fill in name]. Given the overabundance of information at our fingertips, it's no wonder that the pressure to do it all, do it well, and photograph it tastefully seems to have grown with the size of our bandwidth. The number of global Joneses has far exceeded the neighbors down the street. But this comparison trap is a rather artful device that may ensnare us in a different way. On the one hand, we compare ourselves to others and feel inadequate because we don't measure up. But on the flip side, we may...

I'm posting at Out of the Ordinary today: I've often felt like a square peg in a round hole, somewhat of an outsider when it comes to the crowd, and I accept this fact. But what about the family of God? I would like to say there is no fear and total freedom, but sometimes I can't shake off my square-peggishness. Having experienced past rejection, defense is the default. So the shield automatically activates and gets set on withdrawal mode... Read the post . And for a little musical accompaniment -   Square Peg by Jill Phillips

On Sunday evening, the women in the church met together for great food (as always) and fellowship. The pastor's wife then led us in a discussion about the gospel and its direct impact on who we are and our relationships. Thanks to Christie and all the Grace ladies for the encouragement in the gospel which inspired this post: After my daughter was born, the house was a mess. It didn't help that I was so tired and bloated prior to her birth. I just wanted to put my feet up and rest after a day's work rather than attempting to clean while being very great with child. The emergency C-section and the stress of caring for a newborn were the finishing touches to the dust and grime, which were the last things on my sleep-deprived mind.  A friend, who happened to have a house cleaning business, offered to get things spick-and-span. What a gift and what a blessing! But a few days before the date, I noticed the shower curtain liner. In a word, it was gross… Read more her...

The gospel of Jesus is not an invitation to do better or try harder; it is a death certificate that unfolds into a new birth certificate, providing us with a renewed identity! The image of God that was marred in the Fall is revived in Jesus. We have been killed in Jesus' death, buried in Jesus' tomb, and raised in Jesus' resurrection. When we turn from our sin to trust in Jesus, our old self no longer defines who we are and what we do. Our old slave masters have been exposed and deposed. 1 We have enrolled in the ultimate witness protection program and have been issued a new name, "beloved," a new address, "in Christ Jesus," and a new reason to live, "a holy calling." 2 Love Into Light: The Gospel, the Homosexual, and the Church , Peter Hubbard, Ambassador International, 2013, pp. 26-27. 1. Rom. 6:15-23 2. Eph. 5:1; Col. 3:1-4; 2 Tim. 1:9.

On April 14, 276 Nigerian school girls were kidnapped to be sold as "wives" by Boko Haram . This story was picked up by the media, setting off a flood of tweets with the hashtag #BringBackOur Girls. Politicians, celebrities, and the average person on the street called for the Nigerian government as well as the US to do something. To date, 219 girls are still missing . Unfortunately this is only one horrifying example of the global violence against women and girls. According to the statistics more girls have been killed in the last 50 years because they were girls than men killed in all the battles of the 20th century. This is rightly called gendercide because the victims are targeted based on gender alone. 1 As Christians, sin should be no surprise. Mankind has been corrupted at the root and chooses evil over good since the fall. But the sexual assault, sex trafficking, domestic violence, forced abortion, infanticide of girl babies, honor killings, rape as a weapon of w...

I'm posting at Out of the Ordinary today: According to Paul Tripp, one thing that is true for every middle-aged person is  our lives have not worked according to our plan.  He writes, "Our lives have taken twists and turns that we could have never imagined. Some of those turns have left us amazed and thankful while others caused profound pain and loss. In all our planning and our careful decision making, we are still caught up short, surprised by the details of our own existence." When I read this, I didn't know whether to laugh or cry because life has  not  turn out the way I planned. As providence would have it,  most of the unexpected and devastating game-changers occurred  after  I turned 40. Not a very warm welcome to midlife. Of course, there is always the temptation to avoid facing the unfulfilled expectations and shattered dreams. Isn't that what lies at the heart of a midlife crisis? The world is more than happy to distract us with it...

We spent Christmas week visiting family. We talked, laughed, and ate far too much. One highlight of our visit was going bowling the day after Christmas. I'm a terrible bowler. I used the bumpers without shame, never quite got to 100, but I had a wonderful time. After two games, I had a sore forearm, but something else occurred. I was able to lay some painful memories to rest. It may have been only six or seven years but it seemed like an eternity since the last time I went bowling. My ex-husband and I would go out to dinner and do various activities with a few other couples. It was fun before the marriage turned sour. But once the relationship began to deteriorate, these outings were ordeals to endure. I put up a front that all was well because I was still hopeful, but as time went on, the acting became harder and harder. It was mentally, emotionally, and spiritually draining - a form of self-immolation on the pyre of keeping up a "good" Christian appearance. Our last...

If you are a preacher of mercy, do not preach an imaginary but the true mercy. If the mercy is true, you must therefore bear the true, not an imaginary sin. God does not save those who are only imaginary sinners. Be a sinner, and let your sins be strong, but let your trust in Christ be stronger, and rejoice in Christ who is the victor over sin, death, and the world. We will commit sins while we are here, for this life is not a place where justice resides. We, however, says Peter (2 Peter 3:13) are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth where justice will reign. It suffices that through God's glory we have recognized the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. No sin can separate us from Him, even if we were to kill or commit adultery thousands of times each day. Do you think such an exalted Lamb paid merely a small price with a meager sacrifice for our sins?  Excerpt from a  letter  from Martin Luther to Philipp Melanchthon,  Letter no. 99, 1 August 152...

Broken Vows: Divorce and the Goodness of God  by John Greco, Cruciform Press , August 2013, 108 pages. The subtitle of Broken Vows is Divorce and the Goodness of God.  Does that sound like a contradiction? Is it possible to discover the goodness of God in the tragedy of divorce? Author John Greco's answer would be "Yes." In Broken Vows , he shares the story of his wife's adultery and the subsequent failure of their marriage. A promising ministry opportunity to serve as an associate pastor came crashing down as well. Yet through this heartbreak, Greco found comfort in the sovereignty of God and discovered that Christ is able to heal the painful wounds of divorce. In addition, he gives thoughtful counsel regarding the prejudice that a divorced Christian may face, the issue of forgiveness, and how to move forward in a gospel identity. As a divorce survivor, I appreciate the courage it took to write this book. It couldn't have been easy. I'm also glad ...

The Gospel Call & True Conversion by Paul Washer, Reformation Heritage Books, 2013, 200 pages. If you asked the average professing American Christian, "What is the gospel and what constitutes true conversion?", what would be his/her answer? More importantly, would that answer be biblical? The Gospel Call & True Conversion provides a thorough and yet very readable explanation of the call of the gospel and true conversion. Divided in three parts, author, Paul Washer, breaks down the elements of the gospel call, the new heart that is imparted through conversion, and the changed life that is its fruit. He discusses familiar terms such as repentance, faith, receiving Christ, and receiving a new heart, but these terms are seen through the lens of God's Word, not through the eyes of modern evangelicalism. Washer writes with clarity and conviction, and a love for God and His gospel permeates the text. There are extensive footnotes with scripture references as well....

On Sunday evening, several ladies from my church were discussing the hindrances to building relationships with one another. Yeah, we're busy. Yeah, we need to get to know one another better. Those are valid things to consider, but I think this quote gives a deeper, heart-level assessment of the problem: Perhaps our relationships are terminally casual because we're not willing to disclose what's at the heart level. Perhaps nobody dares to ask. Maybe we're unsure of how we are really doing. Maybe we're not willing to hear from others how they are really doing. Maybe we're afraid of the truth  - that it would overwhelm us. Maybe we're insecure because we've been burned in the past. Maybe we're selfishly absorbed with what goes on in our own hearts. Maybe we're just ignorant of the beauty of self-disclosure shared for the sake of the gospel. Maybe we'd rather cling to our assumptions of others. Sometimes we're so wrapped up in our own p...

These lines have been going through my head. Is this good news or what? We praise the risen Savior who is able to present us Without an ounce of blame, with zero doubt or shame 1 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. Jude 24-25 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him . In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ,according to the purpose of his will, Ephesians 1:3-5 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and a...

I borrowed Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert by Rosaria Champagne Butterfield on Wednesday and finished it by Saturday. It is the amazing story of the conversion of an atheist lesbian college professor to Christ. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it hard to put down. She writes candidly about her struggle to come to faith and the complete train wreck it made of her life. She also tells of her transition to becoming a Reformed Presbyterian pastor's wife and their journey to parenthood through adoption and foster care. But I was especially moved by the process of her conversion because God used a means as simple and ordinary as friendship. Butterfield was befriended by a Reformed Presbyterian pastor and his wife. Ken and Floy Smith invited her to their home. They didn't ram the gospel down her throat, even waiting two years before inviting her to church. They were honest about their belief in God, His Word, and what it said about her lesbianism, but that did not d...

The quote I posted yesterday by Kevin DeYoung hit me like a ton of bricks. Even with a greater awareness of the gospel, I still fall back into legalism so easily. There's still a "I need to get it right before I can [fill in the blank]". We're almost finished the women's hermeneutics class. It's been very, very helpful, and it's raised my awareness of the importance of interpreting the Word correctly. Unfortunately, the "I need to get it right" is raising it's ugly head again. To quote my astute daughter who nailed it on the head, "You're afraid to presume, so you're afraid to trust His promises." As much as I hate the prosperity gospel, there's an outcome-based view of God that still lurks deep in my heart. Pray right and God will answer my prayers. Read the Word and believe His promises correctly, and then good will happen. Now there's nothing wrong with praying open and honestly about the burdens on my heart. ...

Here are some random thoughts on the gospel from Sunday's sermon and its application to some recent internal wrestlings: I wonder if our idols are not so much the things themselves but the security they bring. But if I place anything above God, I'm demeaning Him by considering His worth less than whatever comes from His hand. It's convicting to realize how much I make God out to be like man. We give and take away in a fit of pique, motivated by our selfishness. He gives and takes away motivated by divine and perfect love, not indulgent pandering. He wants to give us the best thing possible - Himself. We are impatient and wonder when the other person will finally "get it". God is long-suffering, patient, and fully confident that He will complete His work in us. There is forgiveness for sin, even besetting sins. It's not based on my finally figuring it out and never succumbing to this sin again. It's based on the fact that Jesus died for the specific s...

Apocalyptic romance, that is. I had never heard of the phrase "apocalyptic romance" until Tim Keller mentioned it in this interview . The term comes from The Denial of Death by Ernest Becker who proposed that "When you take God out of the culture, you have got to put something in His place. Apocalyptic romance was one of the ways people aspire to transcendence. So instead of salvation, romance is going to solve everything." Although I would never have owned that romance was going to solve everything, I believed and practiced it. It's easy to do if you over-romanticize the analogy between Christ's relationship with the church and marriage. Omitting the whole counsel of God on subjects like human depravity and progressive sanctification also helps to foster this pie-in-the-sky view. I would have continued in this vein, until my marriage exploded as a result of this self-fueled time bomb. Initially, it's intoxicating to believe you've found the o...

I was never part of the in crowd from kindergarten on up. I have never fit in and I still don't. I have yet to find a Bible tailored to my niche demographic - Asian American, single, homeschooling moms who like Star Wars and get mail from AARP. If I"m honest, I want acceptance, and I want to fit in even if it's fitting in among those who don't. Recently, I was bemoaning that lack of fit-in-ness or doing an indirect boast ("Hah! You'll never pigeonhole me, you pigeon-holers. I defy categorization!") I'm not sure which it was, when my daughter said to me, "The only category you need to be concerned about is being in Christ, and God has already fit you in." Bingo. In Christ   - the only place where real acceptance can be found, where we can find peace and our true identify, and the only category where eternity is at stake. Life and death hang in the balance on whether you're in or out.  We can strive to get in with all our might, bu...