The Root of Angry and Divisive Calvinists: Part One

“What happened to Mark?” asks one of the bewildered purple-haired saints.

Two years ago Podunk Baptist Church sent a bright, energetic, and humble young man off to the seminary. This little gathering of believers has for over two-centuries housed some of the dearest saints. But Mark was different. Though young and a relatively new believer he stood out because of his marked brilliance, passion, and dedication.

Tears of joy mixed with sadness now watered the out-dated carpet, as Mark was sent off to learn how to be a pastor. Most of the members could still remember that cold September morning when a weird looking kid named Mark had “came forward” as an expression of his new found faith in Jesus. Within a short time these same folk—sitting in their same pews—had affirmed Mark’s call into the gospel ministry.

Seminary was the next logical step. The people at Podunk Baptist assumed that within a few short years they would be visiting Mark at the latest Gospel Conference. (That is if he could maybe spot the pastor and a few congregants some tickets).

Time went by and Podunk Baptist heard less and less of Mark. Finally, two long years later Mark accepts an invitation to come back to Podunk to preach a revival. The community is buzzing, in a way that only a small-town can buzz. Even people that darken the door of the church only on Santa’s birthday are considering coming to see if this kid’s fancy book learnin’ may have a remedy for their hurt.

The church rolls out the red-carpet. (Or rather the darkened mats they bought at Wal-Mart to cover the embarrassing rips created by Deacon Cary’s now infamous communion table moving incident.) These dear saints want to treat their shining star like he deserves. They are certain to be blessed and encouraged in their walk with the Lord. The ladies plan one of their famous pot-lucks. The men shave.

Anticipation causes the week since Mark’s acceptance of their invitation to feel almost as long as his two-year absence. If Mark was this smart, this passionate, and this dedicated two years ago what would he be like now that he has spent two years learning from the finest theologians in the world?

Finally the day arrives. Mark is running a little late, but that’s to be expected by such an important young man. He has little time to chat before the service. It’s go time.

Mark is introduced by the pastor; still the same guy that had shared the gospel with him years ago. After the glowing introduction the now-bearded Mark swags into the pulpit. It only takes a few sentences for Podunk Baptist to realize this is a different Mark than the one they sent away.

And it’s not good.

This revival will not be about the beauties and excellencies of Jesus. It will not be a passionate gospel exposition. This revival meeting will be five nights of Mark setting his old church straight. Each night he will put together a finely crafted sermon filled with three points addressing everything that the church erroneously taught him two years ago. Mark is in the “know” now.

What happened to Mark?

The Gospel: Deeper Than We Can Fathom

The gospel…is always deeper than we can fathom.  Our great need is to be led further in to what we already have.  The gospel is so deep that it not only meets our deepest needs but comes from God’s deepest self.  The salvation proclaimed in the gospel is not some mechanical operation that God took on as a side project…When God undertook our salvation, he did it in a way that put divine resources into play, resources which involve him personally in the task.  The more we explore and understand the depth of God’s commitment to salvation, the more we have to come to grips with the triunity of the one God.  The deeper we dig into the gospel, the deeper we go into the mystery of the Trinity.  (From The Deep Things of God: How the Trinity Changes Everything by Fred Sanders)

I have to confess I only bought this because it was ridiculously cheap on Amazon and a few people I respect said it was solid.  I am only through the introduction but so far I am loving it. 

Review of Note to Self by Joe Thorn

I remember watching Saturday Night Live in the late 90’s when Norm MacDonald anchored Weekend Update.  One of his running gags was to deliver a piece of news and then pull out a tape recorder and give a “note to self”.  Joe Thorn is redeeming this practice by taking various themes of the Scriptures and preaching the gospel to himself.   

If only for entrepreneurial reasons alone Joe Thorn is a genius.  What a wonderful idea to take what is almost a diary and sell it for 10 bucks.  Of course you have to actually have something good to say in these “notes to self” otherwise they’d be more aptly titled “Ramblings of an Idiot.”  But Thorn is no idiot.  He masterfully takes passages of Scripture and brings home solid gospel points.  He encourages, he exhorts, and he edifies.  Thorn models what preaching the gospel to yourself looks like.

In case you are not aware of the trend (though it’s not a new practice) of preaching the gospel to yourself the foreword and especially introduction defends the necessity of the practice.  Thorn defines it as, “the personal act of applying the law and the gospel to our own lives with the aim of experiencing the transforming grace of God leading to ongoing faith, repentance, and greater godliness.” 

This book simply models what it looks like to preach the gospel to yourself.  Apart from the introduction the book is comprised of 48 devotionals that are no more than 3 pages long.  It is divided into three sections: The Gospel and God, The Gospel and Others, and The Gospel and You.  Within these sections Thorn tackles such topics as Humility, Waiting for Jesus, Sowing Grace, Listening to Others, Killing Sin, Worship, and Work.  It is a vast array of topics all serving as responses to a specific passage of Scripture. 

To give you a feel for what the book reads like consider Thorn’s response to Hebrews 3:12-13 (an exhortation to exhort one another):

Dear Self,

God has put certain people in your life and will lead others across your path to encourage and correct you.  The problem is that much of the time you just are not listening.  You like to think of yourself as a listener because you so desperately want God to speak into your life and provide wisdom.  You think of yourself as open and willing to heed God’s wisdom.  You think you are ready to move once God provides direction, but you expect God to make this known to you privately—perhaps while you’re reading Scripture or praying—without the involvement of others. 

What you fail to realize is that one of the primary ways in which God will answer your prayer for wisdom is by speaking to you through other people…(83)

Such wisdom and hard-hitting prose is what flows throughout the book.  Of course Thorn not only beats “himself” up he is always quick to apply the finished work of Christ to each chapter.  Again, herein lies the beauty of this book.  The author can really speak/preach “hard” because it is all under the guise (though probably not really a guise) of him talking to himself.  When we listen in on Thorn’s conversations with himself it disarms us a tad and we more readily identify with his struggle and are given hope as we see Thorn apply the gospel to his own brokenness and rebellion. 

Should You Buy It?

For under ten dollars it is one of the best “devotionals” that you will buy.  Even if each chapter was only meant to give you information on these topics it would be worth the price of the book.  But this books greatest benefit lies in the subtle teaching that Thorn is engaging in as you read through each chapter.  He is not only teaching us about the topics he is showing us how to apply the discipline of preaching the gospel to yourself—and that will be an invaluable tool for your Christian walk. 

Yes, I would buy this book.  Buy it for yourself.  Buy it for your wife.  Buy it for your pastor.  Buy it for your congregation.  We all need the gospel and we all can benefit from honing our “preaching” skills. 

You can buy it here for $8.57 bucks or for $7.99 on your Kindle.

I should also mention that when you purchase Joe Thorn’s book you will not only benefit yourself but also a bearded warrior.  If you click the links above you’ll be benefiting two bearded men with one click of the mouse. 

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People You’ve Maybe Never Heard Of But Should: Isaac Watts

Isaac Watts was born in July of 1674 in Southampton, England.  His father, Isaac, was imprisoned at the time of his birth for his being a deacon of a dissenting church.  Because of their non-conformity Watts was never able to attend the prolific Oxford or Cambridge but instead attended the Dissenting Academy of Stoke Newington.

After his education Watts took up a pastorate of a large independent chapel in London.  John Owen had previously ministered in the church Watts now pastored.  During this season of his life his intense study and dedication to the pastorate led him to have frequent attacks of illness.  Within his first couple years Watts had to have a co-pastor (Samuel Price) assist him in his duties.  Though often ill—and often having misgivings about taking a salary—Isaac Watts’ congregation refused to break their connection. 

Watts finally succumbed to illness in 1748 dying in Stoke Newington at the house of the beloved Sir Thomas Abney family.

Why You Should Know Him:

Even if you do not know Watts you have more than likely read some of his hymns.  He was one of the most popular writers of his day for his hymns.  But he also was very popular for his catechism and his Scripture History—these were standard works for years.  Even his books on philosophy were often used as textbooks.  Watts, however, is most known today for his hymn writing. 

Watts broke the mold of the day by introducing new poetry and new songs and hymns of spiritual worship.  Previously churches would only sing hymns or other poetry found in the Scriptures.  Watts’ use of extra-biblical poetry opened up the door for the hymns and songs we now sing in our churches. 

Some of Watts’ more famous hymns include:

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed
Joy to the world
This is the Day the Lord Has Made

These are only four of over 500 hymns that Watts composed.  You can read all of these hymns here.  Watts’ poetry and hymn writing is very rich, God-centered, drenched in the gospel, and Christ-focused.  It is worth noting that John Newton was very much influenced by the hymns of Watts.  His mother would sing them to a young Newton and many believe that these seeds of truth were instrumental in Newton’s later conversion.  Certainly, it influenced Newton’s own hymn writing. 

Samples:

I gave you this last week but it fits here as well.  This is classic Watts:

Hast thou not seen, impatient boy!
Hast thou not read the solemn truth,
That gray experience writes for giddy youth
On every mortal joy?

Pleasure must be dash’d with pain:
And yet with heedless haste,
The thirsty boy repeats the taste,
Nor hearkens to despair, but tries the bowl again.
The rills of pleasure never run sincere,
    (Earth has no unpolluted spring)
From the curs’d soil some dangerous taint they bear;
So roses grow on thorns, and honey wears a sting

In vain we seek a Heaven below the sky;
The world has false, but flattering, charms;
Its distant joys show big in our esteem,
But lessen still as they draw near the eye;
    In our embrace the visions die,
    And when we grasp the airy forms
         We lose the pleasing dream.

Earth with her scenes of gay delight,
Is but a landscape rudely drawn,
With glaring colors, and false light;
Distance commends it to the sight,
    For fools gaze upon;
But bring the nauseous daubing night
Course and confus’d the hideous figures lie,
Dissolve the pleasure, and offend the eye.

Look up, my soul, pant toward th’ eternal hills;
    Those Heavens are fairer than they seem;
There pleasures all sincere glide on in crystal rills,
    There not a dreg of guilt defiles,
         Nor grief disturbs the stream.
     That Cannan knows no noxious thing,
     No cursed soil, no tainted spring,
Nor roses grow on throns, nor honey wears a sting.
(Isaac Watts, Earth and Heaven)

Further Study:

Psalms and Hymns of Isaac Watts

Isaac Watts’ biography

A search for Isaac Watts on Google Books will give you a few very helpful books for free.  Some by Watts and a few biographies from others.

Watts was more than just a hymn writer he was also a physician of the soul.  Check out his counsel to those going through spiritual ups and downs.