Dirty Laundry

I make my living off the evening news

Just give me something, something I can use

People love it when you lose, they love dirty laundry

Well, I could've been an actor, but I wound up here

I just have to look good, I don't have to be clear

Come and whisper in my ear, give us dirty laundry

Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down

Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down

Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em when they're down

Kick 'em when they're up, kick 'em all around

 These lyrics are from Don Henley's song, Dirty Laundry.  At times blogging involves airing dirty laundry.  PCA ministers and colleagues, Tim and David Bayly, are airing some dirty laundry that needs to be seen by those who love our denomination and are concerned about its spiritual health. 

Since 2007 the issue of 'deaconesses' in our denomination has consumed much time and energy.  For those in the know that is a curious statement for our constitution does not define or recognize this title.  However, some churches are forging ahead with innovative practices and using this title as synonymous with 'deacon.'  I served on our denomination's committee to review presbytery minutes in 2007 and again in 2008 where we flagged certain presbyteries for failure to comply with our Book of Church Order as it relates to this issue. 

The church featured in the link below has been at the forefront of innovation.  That it is led by a pastor who has almost 'rock star' status is troubling to say the least.  Many churches are following their lead. 

Click on the link below to see what I'm talking about.  Look for the title, All the pretty language: Redeemer ordains women

BaylyBlog: Out of our minds, too...

John Calvin's Land Ethic

This is the 500th year since John Calvin was born.  I've done my share of reading on this man and attended an excellent conference too.  Yet, with all of this discussion I have yet to read anything related to the environment or land use. 

It might come as a surprise to many Christians to learn that the environmental movement lays at their feet the charge that the Church is responsible for the misuse of the world's resources.  This is based on a misreading of Genesis 1:28 and God's mandate to Adam and Eve: "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and have dominion over (it)."  It is readily apparent that the Genesis account speaks of stewardship instead of abuse, but this is often overlooked by those who wish to find an easy scapegoat.

A few days ago as I was doing my sermon preparation on Genesis 2:15-17 I came across a stunning quote from John Calvin in his commentary on Genesis.  It came in the context of Adam's work in the Garden of Eden.  Calvin draws a principle to demonstrate that we, like Adam, are stewards of God's creation.  He writes,

"Let him who possesses a field, so partake of its yearly fruits, that he may not suffer the ground to be injured by his negligence; but let him endeavor to hand it down to posterity as he received it, or even better cultivated.  Let him so feed on it fruits, that he neither dissipates it by luxury, nor permits (it) to be marred or ruined by neglect.  Moreover, that this economy, and this diligence, with respect to those good things which God has given us to enjoy, may flourish among us; let every one regard himself as the steward of God in all things which he possesses.  Then he will neither conduct himself dissolutely, nor corrupt by abuse those things which God requires to be preserved."

The father of the modern conservation movement is Aldo Leopold.  In my undergraduate studies we took a class on environmental ethics and closely read his work A Sand County Almanac.  I don't think that Leopold was aware of Calvin's opinion when he wrote his Land Ethic.  Nor do I think that many Christians are aware of this 'reformation' perspective either.  In my opinion Leopold would've been stunned to learn that he wasn't really breaking new ground with his book and landmark essay.  I also think that he would be scandalized to learn that CHRISTIANS were talking about a land ethic four centuries before it was fashionable.

Kim Riddlebarger - Free on CD

Author, pastor and theologian, Dr. Kim Riddlebarger reports...

John Hendryx (the proprietor of Monergism) is offering a free CD with all thirty-two of my sermons on Revelation, as well as the first fifteen lectures in my on-going series Amillennialism 101.

As one who needs some guidance in the area of eschatology I've already ordered my CD.  Click on the link below to order yours.  NOTE: the lectures are free but you will need to pay for shipping.

Free Me on CD

Breitbart.tv » Planned Parenthood Leader Resigns

Saw this story and it warmed my heart.

Breitbart.tv » Planned Parenthood Leader Resigns After Watching Ultrasound of Abortion Procedure

Let us not grow weary.

The Synod of Dort on Parents and the Catechism

Friend and ministerial colleague, Wes Bredenhoff, has posted a helpful article on the Synod of Dort (Dordt) and its conclusion about parents catechizing their children. He writes...

On Friday November 30, 1618 in its morning session, the Synod of Dort issued its decree on the manner of catechesis. Dort followed Bremen’s division of catechetical duties. The work of parents, however, was put up front. According to Dort, it is the work of parent to instruct their children and the whole family with all diligence in the elements of Christian religion. With an eye to each one’s capacity, parents are to seriously and diligently exhort their families in the fear of God and sincere piety. They are to discuss the sermons and especially the teaching of the Catechism. They are to read the Scriptures and explain them. If parents were not faithful in these duties, they were to be admonished by the pastors, and if necessary reprimanded and censured by the consistory.


In our day and age we have it exactly backward.  Parents hire pastors (often untrained youth workers) to care for their children and raise them in the faith.  If there are problems then it is these "pastors" who are admonished.  Dordt had it right.  This fits hand-in-glove with what we are trying to achieve at Christ Covenant Church.

Read the rest here:  The Synod of Dort on Catechism

HT. Heidelblog

U.S. Tops in Energy Resources - HUMAN EVENTS

Did you see this recent headline?  For some reason I missed it too.  Found it on Drudge or some other internet site.  It is based on a report from a US Congressional Committee.  Wonder why it hasn't seen the light of day? 

Here are the particulars:

The United States has largest energy reserves on Earth, according to a report from the Congressional Research Service.

 As shown in the charts below, the U.S. has 1,321 billion barrels of oil (or barrels of oil equivalent for other sources of energy) when combining its recoverable natural gas, oil and coal reserves.
While Russia is a close second with 1,248 billion barrels, other energy producing nations are far behind. No. 3 is Saudi Arabia (543 billion barrels), followed by China (494 billion barrels), Iran (426 billion barrels) and Canada (221 billion barrels.)

In addition, the report stated that the United States has tapped into only 13% or 21 billion barrels of its oil reserves, with the other 87% still untouched.

The report also noted that the United States has 28% of all the world’s coal reserves, with Russia again coming in second with 19%.

Click on the link for the rest of the article and some really good charts. 

U.S. Tops in Energy Resources - HUMAN EVENTS

Canadian Medical Tourism

Some might wonder why I have a couple of public policy websites (The Acton Institute and The Mackinac Center for Public Policy) listed on a blog that is largely devoted to reformed theology. The answer is simple: both organizations use logic, reason, natural law and free market thinking to argue for public policies that will improve the lives of the most people at the least cost. One might be surprised to learn that a number of believers are employed at both organizations. I say 'surprised' because you will not find Scripture being cited as the basis for public policy. Perhaps the pro-life movement and those involved with other causes consistent with Scripture can learn from this model.

This video is from my friends at The Mackinac Center for Public Policy. It chronicles the phenomena we see here along the US-Canada border -- scores of Canadians coming to the states for medical treatment. Thought-provoking.

Go to http://www.mackinac.org/ for more videos on this topic and other resources devoted free marketing thinking.

Christianity and Popular Culture

I've often thought that an easy way to illustrate evangelicalism's lack of depth would be to pose these questions:  "If we knew for certain that Christ's return was 500 or 1,000 years away how differently would you choose to live?  How differently would you choose to raise your children?  How differently you would go about selecting a church?"  It's my belief that today's evangelical hasn't thought much about this issue and so most live with a short-term perspective that lends itself to an 'outreach at all costs' mentality.  That, plus its love affair with popular culture is incredibly corrosive. 

With that in mind I'd like to offer a few quotes from cultural analyst and critic, Ken Myers.  He hosts Mars Hill Audio ( http://www.marshillaudio.org/) and was recently a guest on the White Horse Inn and the broadcast was entitled Christianity and Popular Culture.

* Popular culture is not rooted in a specific people or culture...it is mass culture...produced to...make money and make money by entertaining or titillating. 

* One of the dominant assumptions of popular culture is that if it is popular it is good...I don't care how many people like it...that is irrelevant as to whether it is good.

* One of the most corrosive effects of popular culture is the way that it segregates generations... historically all cultures have been ways of passing convictions from one generation to the next...(this has been interrupted).

* It takes a certain type of heroism to admit that the culture has fallen apart so seriously that it we will not be able to fix it in our lifetime...it may take four or five generations.

* It is incredibly chauvinistic for us to assume that God intends to always bless America.  God will bless the Church...and He may curse America.  But whatever He does He will do for the benefit of the Church.

To listen go to the White Horse Inn and go to Listen Now!  Find the broadcast, Christianity and Popular Culture. 

You can also find the broadcast here: http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/the_white_horse_inn/  Go to Show Archives and you will find Christianity and Popular Culture on the date 9/20/09

Please consider supporting The White Horse Inn broadcast on a monthly basis.  Supporters receive monthly CDs and a complimentary subscription to Modern Reformation magazine.  Click on the link above for that information.  I support the ministry and receive CDs with bonus tracks and extra material.  This particular CD had an additional interview from Ken Myers originally broadcast in 1994 entitled, Christianity and American Culture.  It was a fascinating discussion that went hand in hand with this recent broadcast. 

Join the conversation.  What are you waiting for?

Idolatry in a New Light

Darryl Hart has written a short essay on idolatry responding to a recent Christianity Today interview of Tim Keller.  I admit that this might be a bit esoteric but for those in the know he's on the mark.  

Whose Ox, Which Gore?

Calvin on Lord's Day Observance

Yesterday I continued my ongoing sermon series on the book of Genesis.  My text was Genesis 2:1-3 and I titled the sermon, "And God Rested."  This turned out to be one of the harder sermons that I've had to write in recent memory.  I cannot say why with exact certainty but I spent a lot of time reading, pondering, and taking notes. 

This is a topic rarely discussed in the evangelical church -- to any who saw my sermon text and title in the paper they must've thought that my sermon would've certainly been a clunker.  Most would pass the text over saying that it is an oddity and not practical at all (no clear commandments to obey).  Yet those who think this way are wrong, really wrong.  How can they possibly understand Hebrews 4 without first understanding Genesis 2:1-3? 

My research revealed that there are differences of opinion in the reformed community about the Sabbath (sometimes called The Lord's Day).  Some pit the Heidelberg Catechism against the Westminster Confession of Faith.  Some pit Calvin against both of them.  I don't have time to speak to that controversy and besides, there are lots of folks who have already addressed it.* 

There is a point of common agreement among all three sources that is worth pondering.  It is made by John Calvin in his Institutes, Book 2, chapter 8, paragraph 28 (Ford Lewis Battles edition):

“First, under the repose of the seventh day the heavenly Lawgiver meant to represent to the people of Israel spiritual rest, in which believers ought to lay aside their own works to allow God to work in them. Secondly, he meant that there was to be a stated day for them to assemble to hear the law and perform the rites, or at least to devote it particularly to meditation upon his works, and thus through this remembrance to be trained in piety. Thirdly, he resolved to give a day of rest to servants and those who are under the authority of others, in order that they should have some respite from toil.”

I told my congregation that if they remembered nothing more of my sermon they needed remember Calvin's first point -- believers should lay aside their own works on this day to allow God to work in them.  That one thought is often missed as people debate what can and cannot be done on this day.  We would be much further ahead by asking ourselves, "How does this activity ___________ (fill in the blank) contribute to God's working in me for His glory and my benefit?" 

* For further reading...
The Westminster Confession of Faith
The Heidelberg Catechism
Recovering the Reformed Confession, R. Scott Clark
Calvin's View of the Sabbath, Richard Gaffin
A Better Way, Michael Scott Horton