The first question of the Westminster Shorter Catechism is probably the best definition of Christianity I have come across. What does it say?
Question 1: What is the chief end of man?
Answer: Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.
It is the intention of our Lord who has redeemed Christians, that they enjoy being a Christian. Sometimes we get so uptight that we can lose our Christian joy. Have you lost your joy and enjoyment of the Christian life lived out within the context of a Christian Church? If so, ask yourself why? For some they need to cast their cares on the Lord (1 Peter 5:7), for others perhaps they have allowed things to crowd out the big picture to "enjoy" the Lord forever. I hope that this blog post can be pastorally helpful for many.
What does the same question say in the Westminster Larger Catechism?
Question: What is the chief and highest end of man?
Answer: Man's chief and highest end is to glorify God and fully to enjoy him forever.
One of the Bible proof texts given here is from John 17:21-23 (I have included 17:20): “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me".
What a joy to be a Christian? The unity of the body of Christ is so important, but sometimes people, especially Reformed persons, they can become so fixed on every detail of doctrine (and doctrine is very important), that they lose their spiritual joy. When this happens they need to come back to "base-camp", metaphorically speaking and learn again to walk with Christ in humility and enjoy his company.
Psalm 16:11 "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore".
Monday, 9 May 2016
Monday, 2 May 2016
The Geneva Bible: A Forgotten Treasure
Rev David Cross and his wife Barbara Cross worked in the field of church planting in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales. They have since returned to their native USA and Barbara has written this excellent article. It is published with their kind permission. The Geneva Bible has been too long overlooked in terms of its historical significance.
Sometime in the 1980s I was delighted to visit the birthplace of one of my heroes – Abraham Lincoln. Adding to my excitement was seeing Lincoln family Bible in which his birthday was recorded. The guide told us that it was a Geneva Bible. I was curious. “What was a Geneva Bible?” Though I had a BA degree in Biblical Education I had never heard of the Geneva Bible. My interest was greatly stirred and through many years I have enjoyed getting to know more about this translation of the Bible that predated the King James Bible by 51 years and which, for many reasons, was far superior.
The story behind the Geneva Bible began in 1553 when Queen Mary, (often called “Bloody Mary”) the daughter of Henry the 8th, came to the throne. Her mother Catherine of Aragon, divorced by Henry, had been a fervent Catholic and it was Mary’s great desire that England be returned to the fold of the Roman Church. She was not satisfied with the minor “reforms” made early in her reign, such as dismissing married clergy and the restoration of Catholic doctrine. Becoming totally frustrated by the lack of progress in the country becoming solidly Catholic she began a severe persecution of Protestants. Ultimately, around 300 hundred Protestants were martyred, many being burned at the stake.
Many of the greatest scholars and theologians (as many as 800) began to flee for their lives to Switzerland and Germany. A large number settled in Geneva, under John Knox, the pastor of the English Church and John Calvin, pastor of the French church. Under the protection of the Genevan civil authorities it was determined to produce an English Bible that would not need the official license of the King of England, but more important than that, to produce a Bible that would meet the needs of the common people. This had been the desire of the William Tyndale, one of the first men to translate the whole Bible into English. He had said, “If God spare my life ere many years, I will cause a boy that driveth the plow, shall know more of Scripture than thou doest.” (1522, Foxes Book of Martyrs).
Previous English Bibles were very large and very expensive. Added to this was the idea that a Bible translation must be in “holy language” – language that was already becoming outdated. (Court Records in County Durham in the north of England show that “you” had replaced “thou” by 1575.) Also there was the tradition that the Bible must be printed in large black Gothic letters modelled on written script – lettering that made it difficult to read. Now the decision was made to print it in Roman type – a more modern print and much easier to read.
The men who had fled to Geneva desired the same thing as Tyndale. They knew that what was needed was a Bible that was affordable and could be read by the common man. The first translation, produced in 1557, was New Testament. Most of the work was a revision of Tyndale’s 1534 edition. The work was done by Willian Whittingham, who had married the sister of John Calvin. Immediately after the New Testament edition was finished work began on a translation of the entire Bible. The Geneva Bible was the first English version in which all of the Old Testament was translated directly from Hebrew.
The Geneva Bible was, for the very first time, mass produced, mechanically printed and available for the general public. Bibles in the past were only to be used in churches. This Bible was made available directly to the general public. Another thing that made it desirable was its size. It was about 6½ by 9½ inches which made it easy to hold and carry.
John Calvin had stressed to his followers, especially to ministers, “the need to accommodate to the ability of the individual.” This led to another attractive feature of the Geneva which was its illustrations. It had maps of the Holy Land. It had pictures of Biblical stories such as showing the garments of the high priest. It also came with helpful cross referencing – something very new in Bibles. Along with these there was an introduction to each book in the Bible. It also was the first English Bible to be divided into chapters and verses.
Perhaps the best known feature of the Geneva Bible is the marginal notes. Where there were “hard places” in the Bible passages there were explanations given on the side of the text. These “notes” by reformers such as John Calvin and others were written with the idea of helping to interpret the Scripture for the common man. However, they became controversial as they were written from the reformed and Calvinistic perspective, though there were fewer so called “Calvinistic notes” than the enemies of the Geneva Bible would have us to believe. It is no exaggeration to say that the Geneva Bible was the world’s first “study Bible.”
It was also the first Bible printed in Scotland. The Geneva Bible was printed by an Edinburgh published called Thomas Bassandyne and was dedicated to James of 1st England (who was also James 6th of Scotland). The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland (Presbyterian) ordered that a copy must be in every parish church. The Scottish government decreed that not only every parish church have a copy but every home over a certain income must purchase it.
For several generations it was the most popular Bible in the English speaking world, being the most read from 1560 until its last publication in 1644. Well might we ask why is it almost unknown today?
First, it was either ignored or hated by many authorities in the Church of England. Matthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury, disliked it, not because of its translation, but because of its side notes. He complained to Queen Elizabeth about the “diverse prejudicial notes” (Calvinistic) in the Geneva Bible. In spite of his dislike people kept on buying the Bible even some Catholics who wanted to read the Word of God for themselves.
Second, when King James 6th came to England, having ruled Presbyterians in Scotland. (a group he despised) he had an agenda, “to destroy, discredit or displace” the Geneva Bible by any means. James disliked Presbyterianism because He hated the fact that Presbyterians had no room for bishops. To his mind bishops, who ruled the church, and kings who ruled the country, went along in perfect unity. Not to have bishops would threaten his kingship.
James believed strongly in “the divine right of kings” – the idea that only God was above a king in authority. Some of the notes in the Geneva Bible commented on the fact that there were times when a “tyrant king” could be overthrown. He held that there was never a time that a king could or should be overthrown because of his “divine right.”
The Puritans of England knowing that James had come from a county with strong Puritan convictions were hoping that James would help in the establishment of a national Presbyterian church. But that was the farthest thing from James’s mind. At the point of his arrival in England his strong hatred of puritan ideas was unknown. Richard Bancroft, Bishop of London, took it upon himself to further persuade James that the monarchy was dependent upon the Church of England’s Episcopal system – not the Presbyterian system where there was no supreme head.
In 1604 James called a church conference at Hampton court for the purpose of trying to promote unity between the Puritans and the Church of England. John Reynolds, leader of the Puritan contingent, put forth some of their demands – all of which were rejected. However, later John Reynolds voiced a Puritan demand that “one only translation of the Bible was to be declared, authentical and read in churches.” Some believe that his hope was to secure approval for the Geneva Bible to be authorised as the only Bible to be read aloud in church.
Now James saw his chance to get rid of the Geneva Bible. He declared that he “had yet to see a Bible well translated into English,” and gave his opinion that of all the Bibles, “the Geneva is the worst.” James then directed that the “best learned in both universities should start to work on a new translation.” One key rule for the translation of the KJV was, “No Marginal Notes at all to be affixed, but only for the explanation of the Hebrew or Greek Words.” This was his way of getting rid of the notes in the Geneva Bible with a Calvinistic slant as well those notes stating that “tyrant kings” could be removed. He decreed that “special pains be taken for a uniform translation, which should be done by the best learned men in both Universities, then reviewed by the Bishops, presented to the Privy Council, lastly ratified by the Royal authority…"
By 1611 the new Bible was completed. In England it continues to be known generally as the “Authorised Version” while in America it goes by the name of the “King James Bible.”
Did the New KJV immediately replace the Geneva Bible? No! The reaction to the KJV was “generally negative in tone.” For over 50 years the Geneva Bible still sold much better than the KJV. It was the Bible of Shakespeare (There is no evidence to show that he ever used the KJV.) It was the Bible of John Milton, Sir Water Raleigh, John Bunyan, and was the Bible brought by the Pilgrim Fathers and the early settlers to America. Even those most associated with the translation of the King James Version and political enemies of the Puritans like Archbishop Laud and Bishop Bancroft often took their texts for their sermons from the Geneva Bible!
One of the greatest causes of the Geneva Bible falling into disuse came when Charles 2nd became king after the Commonwealth rule of Oliver Cromwell. The Geneva Bible was seen as the Bible of the Puritans and the KJV the Bible of kings and the establishment. Thus the KJV became the established translation of the new restoration of the monarchy. – How sad that one of the greatest English translations fell into disuse.
If you were to come into our home, you might stop to look at various pictures hanging in our family room but pass right by a framed text that seems almost unreadable. To us this is the prize of the prints that hang there. It is a page from an original Geneva Bible given to us for our 50th wedding anniversary by our daughter who knew my love and interest in this great historic Bible. The page was chosen because it contains my life testimony verse, Psalm 16: 6, “The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places: yea, I have a faire heritage.”
Sometime in the 1980s I was delighted to visit the birthplace of one of my heroes – Abraham Lincoln. Adding to my excitement was seeing Lincoln family Bible in which his birthday was recorded. The guide told us that it was a Geneva Bible. I was curious. “What was a Geneva Bible?” Though I had a BA degree in Biblical Education I had never heard of the Geneva Bible. My interest was greatly stirred and through many years I have enjoyed getting to know more about this translation of the Bible that predated the King James Bible by 51 years and which, for many reasons, was far superior.
The story behind the Geneva Bible began in 1553 when Queen Mary, (often called “Bloody Mary”) the daughter of Henry the 8th, came to the throne. Her mother Catherine of Aragon, divorced by Henry, had been a fervent Catholic and it was Mary’s great desire that England be returned to the fold of the Roman Church. She was not satisfied with the minor “reforms” made early in her reign, such as dismissing married clergy and the restoration of Catholic doctrine. Becoming totally frustrated by the lack of progress in the country becoming solidly Catholic she began a severe persecution of Protestants. Ultimately, around 300 hundred Protestants were martyred, many being burned at the stake.
Many of the greatest scholars and theologians (as many as 800) began to flee for their lives to Switzerland and Germany. A large number settled in Geneva, under John Knox, the pastor of the English Church and John Calvin, pastor of the French church. Under the protection of the Genevan civil authorities it was determined to produce an English Bible that would not need the official license of the King of England, but more important than that, to produce a Bible that would meet the needs of the common people. This had been the desire of the William Tyndale, one of the first men to translate the whole Bible into English. He had said, “If God spare my life ere many years, I will cause a boy that driveth the plow, shall know more of Scripture than thou doest.” (1522, Foxes Book of Martyrs).
Previous English Bibles were very large and very expensive. Added to this was the idea that a Bible translation must be in “holy language” – language that was already becoming outdated. (Court Records in County Durham in the north of England show that “you” had replaced “thou” by 1575.) Also there was the tradition that the Bible must be printed in large black Gothic letters modelled on written script – lettering that made it difficult to read. Now the decision was made to print it in Roman type – a more modern print and much easier to read.
The men who had fled to Geneva desired the same thing as Tyndale. They knew that what was needed was a Bible that was affordable and could be read by the common man. The first translation, produced in 1557, was New Testament. Most of the work was a revision of Tyndale’s 1534 edition. The work was done by Willian Whittingham, who had married the sister of John Calvin. Immediately after the New Testament edition was finished work began on a translation of the entire Bible. The Geneva Bible was the first English version in which all of the Old Testament was translated directly from Hebrew.
The Geneva Bible was, for the very first time, mass produced, mechanically printed and available for the general public. Bibles in the past were only to be used in churches. This Bible was made available directly to the general public. Another thing that made it desirable was its size. It was about 6½ by 9½ inches which made it easy to hold and carry.
John Calvin had stressed to his followers, especially to ministers, “the need to accommodate to the ability of the individual.” This led to another attractive feature of the Geneva which was its illustrations. It had maps of the Holy Land. It had pictures of Biblical stories such as showing the garments of the high priest. It also came with helpful cross referencing – something very new in Bibles. Along with these there was an introduction to each book in the Bible. It also was the first English Bible to be divided into chapters and verses.
Perhaps the best known feature of the Geneva Bible is the marginal notes. Where there were “hard places” in the Bible passages there were explanations given on the side of the text. These “notes” by reformers such as John Calvin and others were written with the idea of helping to interpret the Scripture for the common man. However, they became controversial as they were written from the reformed and Calvinistic perspective, though there were fewer so called “Calvinistic notes” than the enemies of the Geneva Bible would have us to believe. It is no exaggeration to say that the Geneva Bible was the world’s first “study Bible.”
It was also the first Bible printed in Scotland. The Geneva Bible was printed by an Edinburgh published called Thomas Bassandyne and was dedicated to James of 1st England (who was also James 6th of Scotland). The General Assembly of the Church of Scotland (Presbyterian) ordered that a copy must be in every parish church. The Scottish government decreed that not only every parish church have a copy but every home over a certain income must purchase it.
For several generations it was the most popular Bible in the English speaking world, being the most read from 1560 until its last publication in 1644. Well might we ask why is it almost unknown today?
First, it was either ignored or hated by many authorities in the Church of England. Matthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury, disliked it, not because of its translation, but because of its side notes. He complained to Queen Elizabeth about the “diverse prejudicial notes” (Calvinistic) in the Geneva Bible. In spite of his dislike people kept on buying the Bible even some Catholics who wanted to read the Word of God for themselves.
Second, when King James 6th came to England, having ruled Presbyterians in Scotland. (a group he despised) he had an agenda, “to destroy, discredit or displace” the Geneva Bible by any means. James disliked Presbyterianism because He hated the fact that Presbyterians had no room for bishops. To his mind bishops, who ruled the church, and kings who ruled the country, went along in perfect unity. Not to have bishops would threaten his kingship.
James believed strongly in “the divine right of kings” – the idea that only God was above a king in authority. Some of the notes in the Geneva Bible commented on the fact that there were times when a “tyrant king” could be overthrown. He held that there was never a time that a king could or should be overthrown because of his “divine right.”
The Puritans of England knowing that James had come from a county with strong Puritan convictions were hoping that James would help in the establishment of a national Presbyterian church. But that was the farthest thing from James’s mind. At the point of his arrival in England his strong hatred of puritan ideas was unknown. Richard Bancroft, Bishop of London, took it upon himself to further persuade James that the monarchy was dependent upon the Church of England’s Episcopal system – not the Presbyterian system where there was no supreme head.
In 1604 James called a church conference at Hampton court for the purpose of trying to promote unity between the Puritans and the Church of England. John Reynolds, leader of the Puritan contingent, put forth some of their demands – all of which were rejected. However, later John Reynolds voiced a Puritan demand that “one only translation of the Bible was to be declared, authentical and read in churches.” Some believe that his hope was to secure approval for the Geneva Bible to be authorised as the only Bible to be read aloud in church.
Now James saw his chance to get rid of the Geneva Bible. He declared that he “had yet to see a Bible well translated into English,” and gave his opinion that of all the Bibles, “the Geneva is the worst.” James then directed that the “best learned in both universities should start to work on a new translation.” One key rule for the translation of the KJV was, “No Marginal Notes at all to be affixed, but only for the explanation of the Hebrew or Greek Words.” This was his way of getting rid of the notes in the Geneva Bible with a Calvinistic slant as well those notes stating that “tyrant kings” could be removed. He decreed that “special pains be taken for a uniform translation, which should be done by the best learned men in both Universities, then reviewed by the Bishops, presented to the Privy Council, lastly ratified by the Royal authority…"
By 1611 the new Bible was completed. In England it continues to be known generally as the “Authorised Version” while in America it goes by the name of the “King James Bible.”
Did the New KJV immediately replace the Geneva Bible? No! The reaction to the KJV was “generally negative in tone.” For over 50 years the Geneva Bible still sold much better than the KJV. It was the Bible of Shakespeare (There is no evidence to show that he ever used the KJV.) It was the Bible of John Milton, Sir Water Raleigh, John Bunyan, and was the Bible brought by the Pilgrim Fathers and the early settlers to America. Even those most associated with the translation of the King James Version and political enemies of the Puritans like Archbishop Laud and Bishop Bancroft often took their texts for their sermons from the Geneva Bible!
One of the greatest causes of the Geneva Bible falling into disuse came when Charles 2nd became king after the Commonwealth rule of Oliver Cromwell. The Geneva Bible was seen as the Bible of the Puritans and the KJV the Bible of kings and the establishment. Thus the KJV became the established translation of the new restoration of the monarchy. – How sad that one of the greatest English translations fell into disuse.
If you were to come into our home, you might stop to look at various pictures hanging in our family room but pass right by a framed text that seems almost unreadable. To us this is the prize of the prints that hang there. It is a page from an original Geneva Bible given to us for our 50th wedding anniversary by our daughter who knew my love and interest in this great historic Bible. The page was chosen because it contains my life testimony verse, Psalm 16: 6, “The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places: yea, I have a faire heritage.”
Monday, 25 April 2016
The Need for Unction in Preaching
"But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge" 1 John 2:20.
The King James Version of the Bible renders the word "anointing" here as "unction", which I suppose we could render the meaning as "the enabling of the Holy Spirit". With respect to preaching then, we must expect and pray for the enabling of the Holy Spirit in the act of preaching. We must pray for our ministers in their preparation, private prayer, and the delivery of the sermon, along with the right reception and hearing of the congregation, that it would be with "unction".
It is not easy to define "unction" and "unction" is not a short-cut for a minister in preparation and sound exegesis of the Bible text. But preaching is far more than preparation; preaching is not simply giving out prepared notes. Preaching is an oral event! It is persuading a congregation from the truth of the Bible. It is bringing God's authoritative message to bear upon the hearers, with the love of God, but with hopefully with "unction" also.
Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones (MLJ) was a strong advocate on the art of preaching and its relevance for the church in every age. Do you also believe in the relevance of preaching? Do you believe in the absolute necessity for preaching? If the Lord does not raise up preachers, then we have nothing to offer really. Nothing can substitute preaching and a church cannot be built upon a weak pulpit. Yes, a church is not to be seen as a preaching station, but it is not less than that.
MLJ believed that there were three ingredients to preaching and all three are requisite for "unction" in preaching. What are they? They are:
1. The preacher
2. The congregation
3. The Holy Spirit
If the preachers are not endured with a proper sense of calling and preparation then "unction" will most likely be lacking. However, we must not underestimate what role the congregation plays in the act of preaching. Spurgeon used to talk of "having a praying people" at the Metropolitan Tabernacle in his day. A praying people are some of the best people ever to preach to; Hungry sheep who have been diligent in praying for the preacher, the act of preaching and for the fruitfulness of the Word of God upon the hearers.
Furthermore MLJ wrote in his book "Preaching and Preachers" that when a preacher is clothed with "power and authority", he will be given "clarity of thought, clarity of speech, ease of utterance, a great sense of authority and confidence". He further writes that "this unction, this anointing is the supreme thing" and he tells preachers "seek it until you have it, be content with nothing less". This is a strong exhortation for those ordained as teaching elders, those who are to lead public worship and preach, but also for all church members to pray for their ministers as well.
Paul the apostle closes his letter to the Colossians with a request for prayer; "At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak" Colossians 4:3-4.
May we all join together to pray for unction in our pulpits and congregations, for the glory of the Triune God and for the salvation of the lost.
The King James Version of the Bible renders the word "anointing" here as "unction", which I suppose we could render the meaning as "the enabling of the Holy Spirit". With respect to preaching then, we must expect and pray for the enabling of the Holy Spirit in the act of preaching. We must pray for our ministers in their preparation, private prayer, and the delivery of the sermon, along with the right reception and hearing of the congregation, that it would be with "unction".
It is not easy to define "unction" and "unction" is not a short-cut for a minister in preparation and sound exegesis of the Bible text. But preaching is far more than preparation; preaching is not simply giving out prepared notes. Preaching is an oral event! It is persuading a congregation from the truth of the Bible. It is bringing God's authoritative message to bear upon the hearers, with the love of God, but with hopefully with "unction" also.
Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones (MLJ) was a strong advocate on the art of preaching and its relevance for the church in every age. Do you also believe in the relevance of preaching? Do you believe in the absolute necessity for preaching? If the Lord does not raise up preachers, then we have nothing to offer really. Nothing can substitute preaching and a church cannot be built upon a weak pulpit. Yes, a church is not to be seen as a preaching station, but it is not less than that.
MLJ believed that there were three ingredients to preaching and all three are requisite for "unction" in preaching. What are they? They are:
1. The preacher
2. The congregation
3. The Holy Spirit
If the preachers are not endured with a proper sense of calling and preparation then "unction" will most likely be lacking. However, we must not underestimate what role the congregation plays in the act of preaching. Spurgeon used to talk of "having a praying people" at the Metropolitan Tabernacle in his day. A praying people are some of the best people ever to preach to; Hungry sheep who have been diligent in praying for the preacher, the act of preaching and for the fruitfulness of the Word of God upon the hearers.
Furthermore MLJ wrote in his book "Preaching and Preachers" that when a preacher is clothed with "power and authority", he will be given "clarity of thought, clarity of speech, ease of utterance, a great sense of authority and confidence". He further writes that "this unction, this anointing is the supreme thing" and he tells preachers "seek it until you have it, be content with nothing less". This is a strong exhortation for those ordained as teaching elders, those who are to lead public worship and preach, but also for all church members to pray for their ministers as well.
Paul the apostle closes his letter to the Colossians with a request for prayer; "At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak" Colossians 4:3-4.
May we all join together to pray for unction in our pulpits and congregations, for the glory of the Triune God and for the salvation of the lost.
Wednesday, 20 April 2016
Being Orthodox as a Church, but also Outward-Moving
In Sheffield Presbyterian Church, we are currently in the middle of a missions fortnight. We do not feel that we have the answers, but it is important that a church is not only committed to sound doctrine, and sound worship. Every church should also be outward looking and considering how to reach the lost. In fact I would contend, that to claim to be orthodox in church doctrine and yet not outward-moving to lost people is not to be orthodox at all. Luke 19:10 "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
Unfortunately, church's sometimes try to reach out to the lost and capitulate on common sense by attempting to lure the world with worldly methods. The Lord Jesus Christ never did this and neither should we. I question the using of magic tricks, gimmicks and dramas as an entertaining method. No, the world is lost and in darkness, and they need to be invited to church to hear the message of salvation preached. The church in its public worship and message is always to be entirely unworldly, other-worldly should I say as we present the claims of the eternal God.
However, here is a challenge. Yesterday, we as a church (and let me make it clear that I am certainly not putting our church forward as a model for what I writing), we went out yesterday to invite people to our church by knocking on doors. We had a quality church leaflet printed, we trained people before we went out and off we went. We knocked on doors in two areas we had planned to cover, but three things struck me at the end of the day.
1. How weak the church is in the United Kingdom.
2. How little the church is doing (including ourselves in Sheffield Presbyterian Church and our own denomination EPCEW) to invite people to our churches.
3. How low the Christian knowledge is among non-Christians in the UK.
The response was overwhelmingly positive with much positive interest. Our aim was simply to invite people to church. Of course we encountered people as in the parable of the wedding feast in Matthew 22:1-14 where they had excuses, but it is clear that the church in the UK are holding back in being bold to invite people in appropriate ways to come to church.
1. Please pray for us in Sheffield Presbyterian Church as we seek to be persistent and consistent in the years ahead to invite people to Hill Top Chapel where we meet (www.sheffieldpres.org.uk)
2. Please pray for your own church, for wise, sensitive and bold ways to be outward-moving without resorting to worldly methods.
Unfortunately, church's sometimes try to reach out to the lost and capitulate on common sense by attempting to lure the world with worldly methods. The Lord Jesus Christ never did this and neither should we. I question the using of magic tricks, gimmicks and dramas as an entertaining method. No, the world is lost and in darkness, and they need to be invited to church to hear the message of salvation preached. The church in its public worship and message is always to be entirely unworldly, other-worldly should I say as we present the claims of the eternal God.
However, here is a challenge. Yesterday, we as a church (and let me make it clear that I am certainly not putting our church forward as a model for what I writing), we went out yesterday to invite people to our church by knocking on doors. We had a quality church leaflet printed, we trained people before we went out and off we went. We knocked on doors in two areas we had planned to cover, but three things struck me at the end of the day.
1. How weak the church is in the United Kingdom.
2. How little the church is doing (including ourselves in Sheffield Presbyterian Church and our own denomination EPCEW) to invite people to our churches.
3. How low the Christian knowledge is among non-Christians in the UK.
The response was overwhelmingly positive with much positive interest. Our aim was simply to invite people to church. Of course we encountered people as in the parable of the wedding feast in Matthew 22:1-14 where they had excuses, but it is clear that the church in the UK are holding back in being bold to invite people in appropriate ways to come to church.
1. Please pray for us in Sheffield Presbyterian Church as we seek to be persistent and consistent in the years ahead to invite people to Hill Top Chapel where we meet (www.sheffieldpres.org.uk)
2. Please pray for your own church, for wise, sensitive and bold ways to be outward-moving without resorting to worldly methods.
Monday, 11 April 2016
The Immense Value of Church History to Give Stability to the Church
For some people church history is boring. But this should not be our attitude to church history. A non-Christian philosopher once said that "those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it". How important this is for government leaders as well as church elders and all Christians! This is why church creeds, such as the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed (381AD), the Athanasian Creed and the Creed of Chalcedon are so important. They lay down boundary markers for truth and prevent stray doctrines from entering into the church and sometimes this happens unawares. This is a constant danger for the church according to Jude 3-4:
Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Did you notice the phrase "crept in un-noticed" and the attack is upon "our common salvation"; this is the content of the church's faith? Just like weeds growing up in our gardens, so do spiritual weeds of erroneous teaching seek to choke sound historic church doctrines. Proverbs 22:28 "Do not move the ancient landmark that your fathers have set.
Of course the authority of Scripture is final, but Reformed Confessions such as the Westminster Standards are vital to the safety, security and comfort of the church. If a church fully subscribes to a Reformed Confession, then we know what they believe and that they are standing on historic, time-tested truths. It is the truth that sets us free according to the Lord Jesus and truth must be pursued, held fast to, and cherished. Do you cherish church history? Do you appreciate the value of church history and appreciate that a church that values church history is less likely to go astray, than one that dismisses church history or one that never mentions church history?
Let us pray for a healthy and enthusiastic love of church history because as long as it is not simply an academic pursuit of self-interest, this can serve the church well.
A Suggested Book
S. M. Houghton, "Sketches of Church History" (Banner of Truth).
Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
Did you notice the phrase "crept in un-noticed" and the attack is upon "our common salvation"; this is the content of the church's faith? Just like weeds growing up in our gardens, so do spiritual weeds of erroneous teaching seek to choke sound historic church doctrines. Proverbs 22:28 "Do not move the ancient landmark that your fathers have set.
Of course the authority of Scripture is final, but Reformed Confessions such as the Westminster Standards are vital to the safety, security and comfort of the church. If a church fully subscribes to a Reformed Confession, then we know what they believe and that they are standing on historic, time-tested truths. It is the truth that sets us free according to the Lord Jesus and truth must be pursued, held fast to, and cherished. Do you cherish church history? Do you appreciate the value of church history and appreciate that a church that values church history is less likely to go astray, than one that dismisses church history or one that never mentions church history?
Let us pray for a healthy and enthusiastic love of church history because as long as it is not simply an academic pursuit of self-interest, this can serve the church well.
A Suggested Book
S. M. Houghton, "Sketches of Church History" (Banner of Truth).
Tuesday, 5 April 2016
Jonathan Edwards Conference 2016: The Glory of God
For the second time in two years, there is a Jonathan Edwards Conference which I warmly commend. I have been reading Edwards for many years and his preaching style could offer valuable "smelling salts" for the church today. Jonathan Edwards was exceptionally clear on the core doctrines of Calvinism, such as total depravity and man's need of salvation.
The website is below if you would like to book. The dates are the 9th-10th June 2016 at the Radisson Blue Hotel in Durham. You can book your place online. Even if you do not come, then do pray for this conference for the Lord's blessing. A potential highlight will be Iain Murray speaking, because he has written a fine biography on the life of Jonathan Edwards. If you have not read this book then I exhort you to do so.
http://www.edwardsconference.org
The website is below if you would like to book. The dates are the 9th-10th June 2016 at the Radisson Blue Hotel in Durham. You can book your place online. Even if you do not come, then do pray for this conference for the Lord's blessing. A potential highlight will be Iain Murray speaking, because he has written a fine biography on the life of Jonathan Edwards. If you have not read this book then I exhort you to do so.
http://www.edwardsconference.org
Thursday, 31 March 2016
The Continuity of Giving Tithes and Offerings between the Old Testament and the New
Matthew 6:19-24 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money".
The teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ cuts right through external religious performance and hypocrisy. Men can be very religious, but they cannot sustain a performance of the duty of giving, private communion with God and secret giving as prescribed in Matthew 6:2, Matthew 6:6 and Matthew 6:17.
Fasting, giving and prayer all continue from the Old Testament, as does also the worship of the LORD in the prescribed manner that He requires. Ceremonies, sacrifices and other means, such as the ordained office of Levites do not continue exactly, because the OT was in Shadow, now the reality has come.
Colossians 2:16-17 “Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ”.
Hebrews 10:1-2 “For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near”.
Matthew 23:23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!”.
Did you notice that Jesus says “these you ought to have done” and by thus he endorses tithing, but not as a religious performance without the heart. Perhaps the key verse for us to emphasise is “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”. This is searching and we must ask ourselves some searching questions? Does your giving to the church reflect biblical principles? Does your giving to the church reflect that your heart is really committed to obeying the Lord and that your giving is a matter of priority and of devotion to the Lord? Religious hypocrites do not like any duties, they only want vague guidance to allow them to do what they will.
As I set forth the binding principle of the tithe upon the new covenant church, you may or may not agree. What you cannot disagree with is Matthew 6:21. Where is your heart? Remember that in Hebrews 8:6 that we have promised a better covenant established on better promises. If a Christian rejects the tithe as binding upon their conscience, then we would expect them to give more than a tenth if they claim to be consistent as a disciple of Jesus Christ. However, this rarely happens in my experience.
The Continuity of Tithes and Offerings
I. Before the Law Came
Genesis 14:17 "After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) And he blessed him and said, 'Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!'. And Abram gave him a tenth of everything".
We know from the Book of Hebrews that Melchizedek is a type of Christ, but it is not Christ pre-incarnate. Christ Jesus, the eternal Son did not come in Person until his incarnation. Here, we have laid down the clear principle of giving a tenth of everything, as unto God Most High. This was continued through the Patriarchs and this principle was declared by Jacob at his conversion (most likely when it happened) in Genesis 28.
Genesis 28:18-22 “So early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first. Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.”
Jacob’s heart was changed and his desire to give to the LORD changed, and the guiding principle is a tenth. This is something anybody can calculate anywhere in the world. If an orange farmer is told a tenth belongs to his owner, he may not be able to read or write but he knows what a tenth is!
II. After the Law Came
Malachi 3:6-12
“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts".
This was binding upon the whole nation of Israel and there are several matters for us to consider briefly.
Departing from the LORD and ceasing to give to the LORD’s church in the OT and the new often go together.
How do we return? It is by giving the tenth and contributions, which the LORD says is robbing God, if we do not.
The full tithe is to be brought into the storehouse which was for the provision of the Levites and the temple worship. The tithe was to maintain true worship and this continues into the New Testament.
The Lord says “put me to the test” and he offers blessings. This is in shadow, but the Lord requires giving to his church (not para-church organisations) for the perpetuity of true worship.
In my experience the Christians who are most happy and holy are those who attend morning and evening worship services as the recognition that they delight in the Christian Sabbath and the ones who also tithe in season and out of season. There are times that tithing is a sacrifice, but we do not shrink back at such times.
III. After Jesus Christ Came
There is no biblical evidence that the tithe is discontinued. Some Christians want explicit proof texts before they will do anything, but oftentimes it is not so that they can obey the LORD, it is because they want to release themselves to a life of self-governed freedom. In short rebellion.
Hebrews 7:1-10: “For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.
See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham. But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him".
Tithes/tenth is mentioned seven times here. Why? Jewish Christians were still giving their tithe to the temple worship and the writer is explaining that this should cease and instead it should be brought to the church and to our great high priest who is Jesus Christ.
The pattern continues, with changes.
We bring it primarily on the first day of the week: 1 Cor. 16:1-2, the Lord’s Day
It is brought for the church, not the temple
Jesus Christ is the king of peace and king of righteousness and we anticipate his blessings upon us: the inferior is blessed by the superior.
It must be given to support a true church. What is a true church? Where the word is purely preached and heard, and the sacraments are rightly administered and received.
Teaching elders need support in the NT. The pattern of ruling elders and teaching elders (Levites) in the OT. 1 Timothy 5:17-18 “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honour, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The labourer deserves his wages”.
As elders we do not monitor people’s tithing and giving.
In conclusion, giving a tenth/paying tithes is found ten times in the NT (also Luke 11:42 and 18:12). May we remember two guiding principles:
First-fruits Proverbs 3:9-10. We attend to giving first to the LORD and then we must make sure this is done diligently.
I. A cheerful giver (2 Cor 9:7)
II. Consistency
III. This is an example to our children and others
IV. This reveals your heart. Proverbs My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways. Your giving reveals your heart and it is that which the LORD wants.
V. Tithing and contributions helps to guard us against lukewarmness, covetousness and self-centred living, besides many other sins.
VI. The Lord rewards us in heaven for our giving and we store up heavenly treasure. It takes faith to believe this, but it is true.
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”, Matthew 6:21.
The teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ cuts right through external religious performance and hypocrisy. Men can be very religious, but they cannot sustain a performance of the duty of giving, private communion with God and secret giving as prescribed in Matthew 6:2, Matthew 6:6 and Matthew 6:17.
Fasting, giving and prayer all continue from the Old Testament, as does also the worship of the LORD in the prescribed manner that He requires. Ceremonies, sacrifices and other means, such as the ordained office of Levites do not continue exactly, because the OT was in Shadow, now the reality has come.
Colossians 2:16-17 “Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ”.
Hebrews 10:1-2 “For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near”.
Matthew 23:23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!”.
Did you notice that Jesus says “these you ought to have done” and by thus he endorses tithing, but not as a religious performance without the heart. Perhaps the key verse for us to emphasise is “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”. This is searching and we must ask ourselves some searching questions? Does your giving to the church reflect biblical principles? Does your giving to the church reflect that your heart is really committed to obeying the Lord and that your giving is a matter of priority and of devotion to the Lord? Religious hypocrites do not like any duties, they only want vague guidance to allow them to do what they will.
As I set forth the binding principle of the tithe upon the new covenant church, you may or may not agree. What you cannot disagree with is Matthew 6:21. Where is your heart? Remember that in Hebrews 8:6 that we have promised a better covenant established on better promises. If a Christian rejects the tithe as binding upon their conscience, then we would expect them to give more than a tenth if they claim to be consistent as a disciple of Jesus Christ. However, this rarely happens in my experience.
The Continuity of Tithes and Offerings
I. Before the Law Came
Genesis 14:17 "After his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King’s Valley). And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) And he blessed him and said, 'Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!'. And Abram gave him a tenth of everything".
We know from the Book of Hebrews that Melchizedek is a type of Christ, but it is not Christ pre-incarnate. Christ Jesus, the eternal Son did not come in Person until his incarnation. Here, we have laid down the clear principle of giving a tenth of everything, as unto God Most High. This was continued through the Patriarchs and this principle was declared by Jacob at his conversion (most likely when it happened) in Genesis 28.
Genesis 28:18-22 “So early in the morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city was Luz at the first. Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.”
Jacob’s heart was changed and his desire to give to the LORD changed, and the guiding principle is a tenth. This is something anybody can calculate anywhere in the world. If an orange farmer is told a tenth belongs to his owner, he may not be able to read or write but he knows what a tenth is!
II. After the Law Came
Malachi 3:6-12
“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts".
This was binding upon the whole nation of Israel and there are several matters for us to consider briefly.
Departing from the LORD and ceasing to give to the LORD’s church in the OT and the new often go together.
How do we return? It is by giving the tenth and contributions, which the LORD says is robbing God, if we do not.
The full tithe is to be brought into the storehouse which was for the provision of the Levites and the temple worship. The tithe was to maintain true worship and this continues into the New Testament.
The Lord says “put me to the test” and he offers blessings. This is in shadow, but the Lord requires giving to his church (not para-church organisations) for the perpetuity of true worship.
In my experience the Christians who are most happy and holy are those who attend morning and evening worship services as the recognition that they delight in the Christian Sabbath and the ones who also tithe in season and out of season. There are times that tithing is a sacrifice, but we do not shrink back at such times.
III. After Jesus Christ Came
There is no biblical evidence that the tithe is discontinued. Some Christians want explicit proof texts before they will do anything, but oftentimes it is not so that they can obey the LORD, it is because they want to release themselves to a life of self-governed freedom. In short rebellion.
Hebrews 7:1-10: “For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.
See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham. But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him".
Tithes/tenth is mentioned seven times here. Why? Jewish Christians were still giving their tithe to the temple worship and the writer is explaining that this should cease and instead it should be brought to the church and to our great high priest who is Jesus Christ.
The pattern continues, with changes.
We bring it primarily on the first day of the week: 1 Cor. 16:1-2, the Lord’s Day
It is brought for the church, not the temple
Jesus Christ is the king of peace and king of righteousness and we anticipate his blessings upon us: the inferior is blessed by the superior.
It must be given to support a true church. What is a true church? Where the word is purely preached and heard, and the sacraments are rightly administered and received.
Teaching elders need support in the NT. The pattern of ruling elders and teaching elders (Levites) in the OT. 1 Timothy 5:17-18 “Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honour, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The labourer deserves his wages”.
As elders we do not monitor people’s tithing and giving.
In conclusion, giving a tenth/paying tithes is found ten times in the NT (also Luke 11:42 and 18:12). May we remember two guiding principles:
First-fruits Proverbs 3:9-10. We attend to giving first to the LORD and then we must make sure this is done diligently.
I. A cheerful giver (2 Cor 9:7)
II. Consistency
III. This is an example to our children and others
IV. This reveals your heart. Proverbs My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways. Your giving reveals your heart and it is that which the LORD wants.
V. Tithing and contributions helps to guard us against lukewarmness, covetousness and self-centred living, besides many other sins.
VI. The Lord rewards us in heaven for our giving and we store up heavenly treasure. It takes faith to believe this, but it is true.
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”, Matthew 6:21.
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