More Pious than the Bible

I am working on the finishing touches of my book, Torn to Heal: The Good Purpose of God in Suffering.  One of the difficulties that I am having is in determining how strong to use language in relation to God’s sovereignty over suffering.  I find great comfort and encouragement from D.A. Carson:

Some theologians are shocked by and express bitter reproach against other theologians who speak of God ‘causing’ evil in any sense.  At one level, they are to be applauded: everywhere the Bible maintains the unfailing goodness of God.  On the other hand, if you again scan the texts cited in this chapter, it must be admitted that the biblical writers are rather bolder in their use of language than the timid theologians! 

Little is gained by being more ‘pious’ in our use of language than the Bible is, and much may be lost.  By being too protective of God, we are in fact building a grid out of only a subset of the biblical materials, and filtering out some of what is revealed in the Bible about the God who has so graciously disclosed himself.  The result, rather sadly, is a god who is either less than sovereign or less than personal, either incompetent and frustrated or impassive and stoical.  But the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is utterly transcendent and passionately personal.  These are among the ‘givens’ of Scripture, and we sacrifice them to our peril. (How Long O Lord?, 199-200)

Pray for me as I continue writing this book.  Pray that the Lord would rescue me from being a timid theologians that attempts to be more pious and wise than the Bible itself.  Pray that the Lord would help me to trust the sufficiency of His Word and to point people to the only means of healing for suffering there is; namely, the Lord Jesus Christ.  People will not be helped by neat theology.  Nor will they be helped by muddy theology.  People will only be helped by theology that exalts Christ and leads to union with Him. 

5 Reasons for Sub-biblical Responses to Suffering

I’m reading through D.A. Carson’s excellent book, How Long O Lord?: Reflections on Suffering and Evil.  Carson begins the book by outlining a few false steps in explaining the reality of suffering and evil.  He notes that sadly believers can even fall prey to these false steps.  He then lists five reasons why we are susceptible to having a poor theology of suffering and evil:

1. We may get the balance of Scripture wrong
2. We may succumb to the crush of the urgent
3. Some of us thoroughly misunderstand a number of important texts
4. Some of us have absorbed a form of theology with all the answers
5. Above all, many of us have not adequately reflected on the cross

Any of us are prone to these five reasons to offer a bad theology of suffering.  I am enjoying the book so far and it is proving very helpful.  To read more you can buy the book here. 

I Didn’t Need Twitchy

Justin Taylor has posted a very helpful two minute or so illustration from D.A. Carson about two Hebrew guys named Smith and Brown on the night of the Passover.  Watch it here (It starts at about the 2 minute mark and ends a little after 4):

When I first saw the title of this post I had imagined that Carson was discussing Smith who believed and put blood on the doorpost and Brown who was skeptical and didn’t put it on the doorpost.  I was going to use this as a launching pad for a very brief point—that there is also probably a third guy present, whom I was going to call Twitchy. 

Twitchy of course is just like Mr. Smith in Carson’s story.  So, I didn’t need him.  He puts blood on the door post but he doesn’t sleep very well that night.  He trusts the Lord enough to cover slaughter the lamb and spread the blood but he spends his night indoors quivering and saying, “Boy I sure hope this works”. 

Christian faith is like that sometimes.  At times we are strong in our faith like Mr. Brown.  We are trusting in Christ and we are graced with confidence and assurance.  At other times we find ourselves a little more like Mr. Smith saying, “Boy I sure hope this works”. 

Remember a weak faith can lay hold of a strong Christ. 

Obviously we’d all rather be Mr. Brown.  But the Mr. Smith’s of the world will stand amazed when the death angel passes over and the sons of God that took refuge in the mighty King stand with the Conquering Lion. 

Muggeridge: Nothing Compared to Christ

I may, I suppose, regard myself, or pass for being, a relatively successful man. People occasionally stare at me in the streets—that's fame. I can fairly easily earn enough to qualify for admission to the higher slopes of the Inland Revenue—that's success. Furnished with money and a little fame even the elderly, if they care to, may partake of trendy diversions—that's pleasure. It might happen once in a while that something I said or wrote was sufficiently heeded for me to persuade myself that it represented a serious impact on our time—that's fulfillment. Yet I say to you, and I beg you to believe me, multiply these tiny triumphs by a million, add them all together, and they are nothing—less than nothing, a positive impediment—measured against one draught of that living water Christ offers to the spiritually thirsty, irrespective of who or what they are. What, I ask myself, does life hold, what is there in the works of time, in the past, now and to come, which could possibly be put in the balance against the refreshment of drinking that water?  (Malcom Muggeridge, quoted from DA Carson, The God Who is There, p148-49, emphasis mine). 

Review of The God Who is There by D.A. Carson

There is a simple rule that I live by and try to impart to others:  If a book has the name D.A. Carson on it you probably should own it.  Carson is an absolutely brilliant bible scholar, but he is also very humble and engaging.  There are very few books written by seminary professors and bible scholars that will include words like “chap” or include whole paragraphs on the theory of nudist colonies. 

One of his latest books, The God Who is There, reinforces my rule, it has the name D.A. Carson on it and it is brilliant.  You need to own this book.  It is fourteen chapters of engaging systematic theology that also serves as an apologetic for Christianity.  It is written for unbelievers, new believers, or believers that have never realized the “big picture” of Scripture. 

Carson starts in Genesis and ends through Revelation.  It is a tad weak on a few sections of Scripture (minor prophets) and could maybe tie together the story of the Bible a little better.  It is obviously fourteen talks that are related but sometimes the book feels like a fourteen part series and not as much a unified whole.  But, honestly, this book is not really written with me in mind. 

If you are like me this book will not have a ton of new information.  But it is still very needful.  There are illustrations that are wonderful and my understanding of many aspects of Scripture is deepened.  More than anything I learned how to engage these topics. 

One of the best ways to disciple someone is to spend time with them.  If you want a new believer to grow in a passion for evangelism and help direct him in how to share the faith one of the best things to do is take him with you as you share the gospel with unbelievers.  D.A. Carson teaches us how to present the Bible’s story in a humble, articulate, truthful, and engaging fashion.  So even if you already feel that you know the Bible story you still will benefit greatly from this book.  And there is always more to the Bible story that I had never considered, a faithful expositor like Carson is a wonderful guide through the biblical story. 

If you know an unbeliever (probably one with a little bit of an intellectual bent) I would encourage you to have them read this book.  Perhaps discuss it with them.  This would also be a good small group material for new believers to go through.  There are numerous ways that this book could be a resource for you.  If you don’t believe me check it out for yourself.  

Also it is worth mentioning that you can go here and check out the video to all 14 chapters.  It will be well worth your time and I would encourage you to buy the book as well.  It’s definitely worth the 12 bucks.  I was fortunate enough to receive this for free from Baker books in exchange for a review, it did not have to be positive but I freely give it a positive review!

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Here is the video for the first chapter:

The God Who Is There - Part 1. The God Who Made Everything from The Gospel Coalition on Vimeo.

Agree or Disagree? The Psalms and the Young

“…Not a lot of people know the book of Psalms well at twenty-five.  This is because the book of Psalms resonates with people who have had a lot of experiences.  You have to have quite a lot of different experiences under your belt before you resonate easily with a lot of the things that are said in the book of Psalms: lament, loss, shame, death, triumph, the exaltation of informed and godly God-centered praise, and prophecy anticipating what is still to come.”  If instead you have a  very limited experience, most of these things just sounda bit over the top or a bit extravagant or even alien to you.”  (Carson, The God Who Is There, 86)

What is your experience with the Psalms?  I am looking to hear from people in all age ranges.  Has your appreciate of the Psalms grown over the years?  Are there any under twenty five that would disagree with Carson? 

Talk to me…

Review of Scandalous by D.A. Carson

Author: D.A. Carson

Pages: 176pgs

Publisher: Crossway

Price: 10.39

Genre: Theology/Christian Living

Quick Summary:

Scandalous is the book version of five addresses that D.A. Carson gave at a Resurgence conference on the cross and resurrection of Jesus. The five messages (chapters) are on the ironies of the cross, the centrality of Christ in Scripture, the triumph of a slaughtered lamb, the miracle of the resurrection, and the doubting of the resurrection.

I think Mark Driscoll summarizes this book best when he says, “What happens when one of the world's preeminent theologians expounds on some of the Bible's prominent texts? This book."

What I Liked:

It is rare to find a top-notch scholar that is also a top-notch preacher that is also a top-notch writer. D.A. Carson is that rarity. You cannot go wrong reading Carson. Scandalous is typical D.A. Carson: witty, scholarly, gospel-centered, and greatly helpful. This is one of those books that you will read in a week because you are so involved in each chapter.

If this is your first exposure to D.A. Carson buy this book, read it and buy many of his other books. Carson has an amazing ability to speak relevantly to a new believer, a seminary student, a skeptic, a seasoned believer, and pretty much everyone with a heartbeat. Not only does he speak relevantly but he makes difficult truths easy to understand and he does it in such a fashion that honors and exalts Jesus. You will walk away from reading this book with a much deeper appreciation for Jesus. I truly believe this book will lead to worship.

What I Disliked:

It’s D.A. Carson, what’s not to like? Each chapter stands on its own so it is perfect for a five part Bible study or something. But keep in mind when you get this the purpose of the book. It will go deep, but not deeper than a typical 5 part talk on a subject. The chapters do not necessarily build on each other but they look at a different aspect of the cross and resurrection of Jesus. I found this helpful, but some may dislike that if they are expecting something else.

Should You Buy It?

If you have 10 bucks, you know how to read, and you don’t want to be a moron then I would strongly consider buying this book. It is a fun read and you will certainly have a deeper appreciation for the cross and resurrection after reading things. Go buy it.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Review of The Trials of Theology by Cameron and Rosner

Author: Edited by Andrew J.B. Cameron and Brian S. Rosner

Pages: 192pgs

Publisher: Christian Focus

Price: 9.89

Genre: Theology/Ministry

Quick Summary:

This book is written specifically for students of theology. There are numerous trials that come with giving yourself to the study of theology. This book considers voices from the past as well as voices from the present. The modern authors give tips for steering clear of the various pitfalls unique to the specific disciplines of theology. The past authors give a more general advice to doing theology.

In this book you will hear from Augustine, Luther, Spurgeon, Warfield, Bonhoeffer, and C.S. Lewis. The modern authors are: D.A. Carson (biblical studies), Carl Trueman (church history), Gerald Bray (systematic theology), and Dennis Hollinger (Christian Ethics). It may be helpful to view the table of contents: http://www.monergismbooks.com/pdfs/trialstheology1.pdf

What I Liked:

This book is filled with wisdom and amazing quotes to put on my wall. It is great hearing voices from the past share their hopes and fears for the next generations. But sometimes the voices of the past are trapped in their own era and their timeless advice is muddied by specificity. Thankfully we are also given in this book advice from modern authors that say essentially the same thing but do with the specificity required of our own day. This book is such an excellent idea and it delivers on its promises.

I have to agree with what Dr. Schreiner blurbed on the back cover, “I was consoled, convicted, instructed, and even ushered into God’s presence by this book”. I was deeply convicted by Warfield and Bonhoeffer. I was instructed by Lewis and Trueman. And I was consoled by Carson and Spurgeon. The chapter by John Woodhouse is equally convicting, encouraging, and instructive.

What I Disliked:

I was a tad disappointed by the light sampling of Augustine. There is so much that Augustine has said that could have been placed in this book. What is here is greatly helpful but considering all that Augustine offered to the topic it seems lacking.

At times a couple of the modern authors seem to be more engaged in defending the need for their particular discipline than expressing the trials attending it. There are some spots that major on the “trials” but offer little advice on “becoming a proven worker”. But when read as a whole this book certainly delivers.

Should You Buy It?

If you are a pastor or a student of theology then this book needs to be on your shelf. If you do not tend to read or study theology much then you would benefit from this book but it may not be a necessity. This book should be given to every seminary freshman. You can buy it for yourself or a gift for only 9.89.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Review of Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor by D.A. Carson

Author: D.A. Carson

Pages: 160 pages

Publisher: Crossway

Price: $11.19

Genre: Christian Biography

Quick Summary:

You have probably heard of Don (D.A.) Carson. Most Americans have probably never heard of Tom Carson (Don’s dad). Tom was an “ordinary” pastor to French speaking Canada. His son has taken his letters, journals, and other manuscripts and has turned them into a mighty gift to the church.

Throughout this book we learn of Tom’s life and struggles as a common pastor. We are allowed to enter into the world of a pastor struggling with discouragement, depression, and feelings of worthlessness. We see the joys of laboring for Christ mixed with the brokenness of a fallen perfectionist. We see a loving father and husband that are always striving to be better. We witness the pain of Alzheimer’s and death of a cherished spouse and life-long partner in the gospel. From the highs through the lows this book is shockingly real.

What I Liked:

I had to hold back tears when D.A. Carson’s “mum” died. Perhaps, it through me back to witnessing my own grandfather by the bedside of my grandmother. Nevertheless, such emotion for someone that I had never met or even heard of is a testimony to Carson’s vivid writing style and compilation of his father’s journals. It is easy for a rural youth pastor like me (even though only 27) to identify with some of the feelings of Tom Carson. It is also wonderful that Carson interjects biblical wisdom throughout these journals.

Carson also, wisely, provides us American readers with some Canadian church history to help tell the story. That is helpful otherwise I would have been totally lost.

What I Disliked:

There is really nothing that I can honestly say I disliked. There are two things that make it somewhat difficult to read, but those are common in a book of this sort. One, it is sometimes difficult to place yourself in a situation when you have little knowledge of the environment. Carson makes a wonderful attempt at making us Americans at least moderately adept at understanding the French Canadian environment. Two, many biographies do this and it’s a good thing, but it makes it difficult to read letters when people are referred to by initials. It just gets confusing. Almost all memoirs are this way, I just wish they weren’t. I’d prefer a “names were changed to protect the innocent” type of thing.

Should You Buy It?

If you absolutely have to have a hard copy then yes. You need to read this book. You can read it online for free by going here. Or you can buy it for 11.19. There are some things in the book that are worthy of underlining or keeping on file for further reflection. You may want to go ahead and purchase it, but if money is tight you need to at least read the free copy (I read it in about 6 hours).

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Links for the DG Pastor's Conference

This Conference was amazing. I also was honored to get to meet John Piper. It was only brief-- actually only long enough for me to shake his hand and to tell him thank you for his ministry--but it was a wonderful experience. (His light is also borrowed). Here are the links you need:

Session 1: The Pastor as Son of the Heavenly Father by D.A. Carson
Session 2: The Call to Courage by Crawford Loritts
Session 3: The Pastor as Son of an Earthly Father by D.A. Carson
Session 4: Evangelist Bill Piper: Fundamentalist Full of Grace and Joy
Session 5: The Pastor as Father to His Family and Flock by Carson
Session 6: Fathering a Pioneer Mission Ministry by Greg Livingstone
Session 7: Q & A by All Speakers

Tuesday's Breakout Session: Strategy for Fatherhood by Gregg Harris

Or you could just go here, and visit on the links straight from DG.

Desiring God's Pastor's Conference Post 1

I will not give you summaries, DG has effectively shared those. I merely want to share a few observations and blessings (in no particular order) from this conference, thus far.

1. D.A. Carson is far more Canadian than I ever knew. It took me about 10 minutes to figure out what a den-a-stee (dynasty) was.
2. There is a reason for the phenomenal young Harris men. Josh, Joel, Alex, Brett, Isaac, and their 7 year old brother (can't remember his name) have a phenomenal God-centered, intentional, father named Greg Harris.
3. Crawford Loritts, I believe, is missing a knife. At some point during his preaching, one flew forth and cut my heart. (I find, though, that it is not Crawford's knife, but it comes from the knife set that each of us are given in the powerful Word). Make certain to listen to his sermon. If you are a man listen to this. If you know a man listen to this.
4. David Michael (I had lunch with him) is a wonderful humble man of God. Generations of passionate worshippers will owe much of their theological training to God using David and Sally Michael.
5. John Piper will stay later than anyone else to pray for brothers in Christ. This man models the message! Thank God for the John Piper's of the world.
6. I actually can turn down books. The Pastor's Conference bookstore is phenomenal. I figured if I got out with under 50 bucks I'd be succesful. So far I've only gotten two books. If I can only resist the temptress tomorrow.
7. Steve Burlew of Banner of Truth is a really nice guy.
8. The worship here is vibrant. You actually can combine contemporary and traditional, and have nobody notice, because the focus is so unbelievably God-centered that you can't tell which is which.
9. God is really big and beautiful and grand and glorious and I am a very shallow small hypocritacal God-belittiling sinner; and yet because God is such a great beautiful-glorious-majestic-merciful-compassionate-amazing God I am His Son because of the Cross. Wow! I can't help but pray that the Lord might cause me to camp out under the Cross (obviously not to depreciate any other aspect of the Gospel)!
10. I am ever excited about being a father; and yet trembling at this awesome task. To think that I will reflect Almighty God to my son. Therefore, I have also learned anew
11. I really really really really really (ad infinitum) need God's mercy.

Review of D.A. Carson--The Cross and Christian Ministry

Author: D.A. Carson

Pages: 137

Publisher: Baker

Price: 8.37 USD

Genre: Christian Ministry/Biblical Studies

Quick Summary:

This work by Carson is actually an overhaul of a series of four talks given at the ICAA (International Council of Accrediting Agencies). In it Carson hopes to show what the Cross of Christ means for preaching and ministering. He faithfully exposits the first four chapters of 1 Corinthians and then moves to 1 Corinthians 9:19-27.

Carson’s aim throughout this work is to show the centrality of the Cross in everything we do in ministry. From the central influence that the Cross has on biblical preaching to the mandate the Cross puts on our lives to take the gospel to the nations; Carson faithfully shows that the Cross is (and should remain to be) the center of all Christian ministry.

This book is not only for pastors; it speaks to every Christian in any form of ministry. This book will prove a much needed resource in the ever changing culture in which we live. If Carson’s advice is heeded we will come to believe that the Cross is central (and effective) in whatever generation it is proclaimed. “Christ crucified” is just as much the power of God unto salvation in our day as it was in Paul’s. As Carson says in his preface, this lesson “must be learned afresh by every generation of Christians, or the gospel will be sidelined by assorted fads.” This work by Carson stands in the way of such fad-driven ministries, and faithfully proclaims Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

What I Liked:

As always D.A. Carson does a wonderful job of biblical exposition. He not only teaches on the Cross and Christian leadership, but he faithfully exposits the texts with which he uses. This book could be used as much as a commentary as a book on ministry. Carson is a wonderful example of expository preaching.

Also of importance is the centrality of the Cross that Carson repeatedly lifts up. One will walk away from this book with a new resolve and confidence in proclaiming Christ and Him crucified. Wonderfully woven throughout this work are ministerial gems. Carson grounds everything in the Word and then applies it faithfully; with warnings and encouragements.

What I Disliked:

A better word than dislike would probably be disappointed. My only disapproval of the book is that it is not long enough. Carson has a wealth of insight on the Cross and Christian ministry; I was saddened after each chapter, as well as at the end of the book, that Carson did not share the depth of his insight with us. Nonetheless, it is a must have to any Christian library.
Should You Buy It?

I would most certainly buy a copy of this magazine. It would be especially effective for any young minister or newly appointed Sunday School teacher. A church could easily benefit by having its ministers go through a small group study with this book as its core. Also, I would be remiss if I did not encourage the reader (especially pastors) to pick up a copy of Arturo Azurdia’s Spirit Empowered Preaching as well as Bryan Chapell’s Christ-Centered Preaching.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars