Saturday, December 19, 2009

Augustine on Election

I doubt if any have written so eloquently on election other than the Apostle Paul, as Augustine:

"Then [in Heaven], in the clearest light of wisdom, will be seen what now the pious hold by faith, not yet grasping it in clear understanding--how certain, immutable, and effectual is the will of God, how there are things he can do but doth not will to do, yet willeth nothing he cannot do, and how true is what is sung in the psalm: "But our God is above in heaven; in heaven and on earth he hath done all things whatsoever that he would."

"For grace alone separates the redeemed from the lost, all having been mingled together in the one mass of perdition, arising from a common cause which leads back to their common origin."

[Handbook on Faith, Hope, and ]

All of us were born in sin, destined to wrath. For some God shows mercy to the undeserved. For others God shows justice to the deserved.

Sending Alarms

Psa 139:11-16

You know me. You know the words I'm thinking, the thoughts before they enter my mind and the reasons why I write this. There is nothing hidden from You.

v11-12 "If I say, 'Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,' even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day."

"We are ashamed to let men know and witness our delinquincies; but we are as indifferent to what God may think of us, as if our sins were covered and veiled from his inspection." - Calvin

verse 15 "My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth."

"We need not then wonder if God, who formed man so perfectly in the womb, should have an exact knowledge of him after he is ushered into the world." - Calvin

"Secret haunts of sin are as open before God as the most open villainies. On the other hand, the believer cannot be removed from the supporting, comforting presence of his Almighty Friend." - Henry

Why does it not concern me that You know me so well? Why do I not shudder that the One who is unapproachable Light knows my deepest, darkest secrets? Why am I indifferent to that? Should that not cause great fear, great restraint, great alarm?

Last week I checked on a house for a friend. It had all the security features. A motion detector watched my every move. God knows everything I do and say. Lord may my actions today not send off any alarm bells!

Friday, December 18, 2009

Calvin's Institutes - after thought

Today I have just completed the study of this massive work by Calvin that we refer to as Calvin's Institutes. This has been an awesome journey where caricatures, misgivings and false notions were all dismantled. Calvinism, what is it? We are all robots. God sends babies to hell. Election, election and more election.

None of the above is true. I found in Calvin an earnest love for the Church. There is amazing passion and charity to sinners like you and I in Calvin's writings. I found his work on the sacraments, long-winded and laborious. I found Calvin's theological work to be absolutely devotional. It brings about such adoration and worship as he expounds the Word through the Institutes. His attacks on Roman Catholicism is unrelenting toward its false doctrine, universal influence and immoral priesthood.

I recall his treatment on the subject "the fear of the Lord" to be exceptional -- second to none! So much is a blur. I can't imagine writing such a expansive work without the aid of computers and digital resources!

One lasting thought: Many Christians engage people who say, "The Bible is full of errors. Christianity is contradictory. Etc." We respond with this, "Have you read the Bible?" We find that the attacks are unfounded because they are based on hearsay and misconceptions. I end this study with the approach to so-called "Calvinism". Have you read Calvin?

Calvin is a man. I do not agree with some of his conclusions, especially in the area of the sacraments. Most I do hold in agreement. This read has been good for me. There have been times that I read and blogged overwhelmed by the detail and the comprehensiveness of what I had been reading. Other times I blogged because what I was reading thrilled my soul, nourished my mind and brought me to worship our sovereign, majestic and truth-laden God.

Thankfully, when you respond to me in the future, "But have you read Calvin?" I will be able to say yes. Have you?

Calvin's Institutes 4.20.12. to 4.20.32.

INSTITUTES
OF
THE CHRISTIAN
RELIGION

By
John Calvin

BOOK FOURTH.
OF THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH

CHAPTER 20.
OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT

4.20.12. - 4.20.13.

Calvin continues with his interaction with the subject of a just war. When someone would say that the New Testament does not permit such action, Calvin would respond that this is not the primary purpose of the Scriptures, therefore, it is no surprise that we do not find exposition on this subject. Magistrates have been given a task and if it performed without prejudice and with integrity, that is what is important. "Lastly, we think it proper to add, that taxes and imposts are the legitimate revenues of princes, which they are chiefly to employ in sustaining the public burdens of their office. These, however, they may use for the maintenance of their domestic state, which is in a manner combined with the dignity of the authority which they exercise." Such treasuries, though, are not for private gain for the leaders, but for the good of the whole people.

4.20.14.- 4.20.21.

Now the author turns his attention to laws. He admits not to do an extensive work on this subject, but to at least address how the law of God interacts with society. The answer to that question which he engages in is "we must attend to the well known division which distributes the whole law of God, as promulgated by Moses, into the moral, the ceremonial, and the judicial law, and we must attend to each of these parts, in order to understand how far they do, or do not, pertain to us." Calvin would argue that the moral law (The Ten Commandments) and the judicial law (parts that pertain to justice and peace) are still relevant for society. The ceremonial law has been abrograted by Christ. "Therefore, as ceremonies might be abrogated without at all interfering with piety, so, also, when these judicial arrangements are removed, the duties and precepts of charity can still remain perpetual." When Laws are formed on certain principles then Calvin would believe them to be right and useful for society. For example: All laws should aim at the principle of equity. And "it is evident that the law of God which we call moral, is nothing else than the testimony of natural law, and of that conscience which God has engraven on the minds of men, the whole of this equity of which we now speak is prescribed in it. Hence it alone ought to be the aim, the rule, and the end of all laws."

The civil authorities and the private citizens must contend for fairness, equity, the right of a good defense and of course a charitable spirit even toward an offender. "For it ought to be an axiom among all Christians, that no plea, however equitable, can be rightly conducted by any one who does not feel as kindly towards his opponent as if the matter in dispute were amicably transacted and arranged."

Is this not the word of Christ? Matthew 5 and Romans 12 both show that an equitable, charitable attitude ought to exist even to one's enemies and the offender.

As to lawsuits, it is wrong that Paul condemns all lawsuits. "Christians should always feel disposed rather to give up part of their right than to go into court, out of which they can scarcely come without a troubled mind, a mind inflamed with hatred of their brother."

4.20.22. - 4.20.32.

As to kings and those in authority, the first duty of Christians is to show due respect to these whom God has placed in office."From this, a second consequence is, that we must with ready minds prove our obedience to them, whether in complying with edicts, or in paying tribute, or in undertaking public offices and burdens, which relate to the common defence, or in executing any other orders. "Let every soul," says Paul, "be subject unto the higher powers." "Whosoever, therefore, resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God" (Rom. 13:1, 2)." We must also be assured that God Himself has set up kings, so a king established that is unruly and immoral is a reflection of God's anger. "This feeling of reverence, and even of piety, we owe to the utmost to all our rulers, be their characters what they may. This I repeat the oftener, that we may learn not to consider the individuals themselves, but hold it to be enough that by the will of the Lord they sustain a character on which he has impressed and engraven inviolable majesty."

In Summary:

We owe to the civil authority:

1. Reverence heartily rendered to him as God's ambassador.
2. Obedience, or compliance with edicts, or paying taxes, or undertaking public offices and burdens.
3. That love which will lead us to pray to God for his prosperity.

Conversly we are called to obey not only good magistrates, but all who possess authority, though they may exercise tyranny; for it was not without the authority of God that they were appointed to be princes. When bad men rule, let us first remember our faults, which are chastised by such scourges; and, therefore, humility will restrain our impatience. Besides, it is not in our power to remedy these evils, and all that remains for us is to implore the assistance of the Lord, in whose hand are the hearts of men and the revolutions of kingdoms.

God restrains bad rulers in two ways: either by raising up from among their own subjects open avengers, who rid the people of their tyranny, or by employing for that purpose the rage of men whose thoughts and contrivances are totally different, thus overturning one tyranny by means of another.

The obedience enjoined on subjects does not prevent the interference of any popular Magistrates whose office it is to restrain tyrants and to protect the liberty of the people. Our obedience to Magistrates ought to be such, that the obedience which we owe to the King of kings shall remain entire and unimpaired.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Calvin's Institutes 4.20.8. to 4.20.11

INSTITUTES
OF
THE CHRISTIAN
RELIGION

By
John Calvin

BOOK FOURTH.
OF THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH

CHAPTER 20.
OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT

4.20.8. to 4.20.9.

As to which is the best or better form of civil government, Calvin is not dogmatic. However he does say this which is helpful: "Owing, therefore, to the vices or defects of men, it is safer and more tolerable when several bear rule, that they may thus mutually assist, instruct, and admonish each other, and should any one be disposed to go too far, the others are censors and masters to curb his excess." Civil leaders are to take great care to the moral Law of God as well as the interests of the public. Ultimately the responsibility of the civil leaders is righteousness and justice.

4.20.10. - 4.20.11.

Some might wonder, as he discusses the moral law, upon what basis can civil leaders break the law of murder by executing justice on offenders. Calvin reminds us of their authority and their responsibility. "But if we understand that the magistrate, in inflicting punishment, acts not of himself, but executes the very judgments of God, we shall be disencumbered of every doubt." And as to the matter of war? "As it is sometimes necessary for kings and states to take up arms in order to execute public vengeance, the reason assigned furnishes us with the means of estimating how far the wars which are thus undertaken are lawful. For if power has been given them to maintain the tranquillity of their subjects, repress the seditious movements of the turbulent, assist those who are violently oppressed, and animadvert on crimes, can they use it more opportunely than in repressing the fury of him who disturbs both the ease of individuals and the common tranquillity of all; who excites seditious tumult, and perpetrates acts of violent oppression and gross wrongs?"

"Natural equity and duty, therefore, demand that princes be armed not only to repress private crimes by judicial inflictions, but to defend the subjects committed to their guardianship whenever they are hostilely assailed."

Monday, December 14, 2009

Calvin's Institutes 4.20.2. to 4.20.7.

INSTITUTES
OF
THE CHRISTIAN
RELIGION

By
John Calvin

BOOK FOURTH.
OF THE HOLY CATHOLIC CHURCH

CHAPTER 20.
OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT

4.20.2. - 4.20.3.

Calvin continues his discussion of civil government. He gives to us an amazing fole for this government lest some people would wish to ignore it and live in licentiousness. "The former [civil government], in some measure, begins the heavenly kingdom in us, even now upon earth, and in this mortal and evanescent life commences immortal and incorruptible blessedness, while to the latter it is assigned, so long as we live among men, to foster and maintain the external worship of God, to defend sound doctrine and the condition of the Church, to adapt our conduct to human society, to form our manners to civil justice, to conciliate us to each other, to cherish common peace and tranquillity."

Calvin refutes the idea that civil government is irrelevant. He also suggests that it is instituted merely that we might have the necessities of life. No, "but it is, that no idolatry, no blasphemy against the name of God, no calumnies against his truth, nor other offences to religion, break out and be disseminated among the people; that the public quiet be not disturbed, that every man's property be kept secure, that men may carry on innocent commerce with each other, that honesty and modesty be cultivated; in short, that a public form of religion may exist among Christians, and humanity among men." Of course Calvin is using the word 'religion' in its broadest form -- as a way of life.

Calvin divides the concept of civil government into three parts: the magistrate, the law and the people.

4.20.4 - 4.20.7

As to the magistrate, Calvin writes, "When those who bear the office of magistrate are called gods, let no one suppose that there is little weight in that appellation. It is thereby intimated that they have a commission from God, that they are invested with divine authority, and, in fact, represent the person of God, as whose substitutes they in a manner act." God not only sets up kings and rulers, but they rule as delegates of His high and holy governement. The Bible teaches that rulers are subject to Christ and serve in His interest. The righteous rule of the government is also a means for guarding and protecting the interests of the Church.

"What zeal for integrity, prudence, meekness, continence, and innocence, ought to sway those who know that they have been appointed ministers of the divine justice! How will they dare to admit iniquity to their tribunal, when they are told that it is the throne of the living God?" The kings of the earth are to serve in humility and are to be given honor by their subjects. They are to serve in the wisdom of the Lord.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

GIVE TIGER A MULLIGAN!

CTV News reported that "Gillette has become the first major corporate sponsor to step away from Tiger Woods as he deals with the aftermath of his infidelities ...The superstar golfer has been embroiled in accusations of cheating on his wife for the past two weeks after a bizarre late-night car accident drew attention to Woods' personal affairs.

Woods apparently has intention to work on his marriage and the healing of his family. Now I have to admit that I, like you, only know the scant and ambiguous reports. So I'm cautious as to what I assert to be true and how I judge this sad story.

Tiger's distressing situation is nothing compared to how God will judge him if he fails to repent and surrender his life to Christ. I in no way condone or seek to minimize Tiger's sin.

However I am shocked at a company like Gillette who starts to distance themselves from this icon. What hypocrisy! How many years ago was it that an American president was virtually given a moral Mulligan in a similar event?

I don't think Tiger should get a free pass but TV hosts to politicians have committed the same sin and the public has shown little reaction. Let's be consistent!

Tiger, take time to work on your marriage. If that's what you intend to do, you ought to have our support and encouragement. Well done to Nike who isn't throwing in the towel.