The Gospel Coalition

Adoniram Judson and Ko Tha Byu (“The Karen Apostle”) brought the gospel to the Karen people of Burma in 1828. Revival came and thousands from this animistic people were saved and baptized. Now 40% Christian, the Karen people are suffering and they need our prayers.

Christians receive harsh treatment in Burma (also known as Myanmar), where they make up only 4% of the population (89% are Buddhist). According to a thorough report from Compass Direct, “Printing of Bibles is restricted, and churches are destroyed on a regular basis.” Last January, 100 churches in Rangoon were forced to close. If a Chin or Karen (two states with high Christian populations) Christian wants a job or promotion, they are often told to convert to Buddhism first.

The persecution goes far beyond closing churches and discriminatory hiring practices, however. Over 150,000 Karen and Karenni people have fled to refugee camps in Thailand—over half are Christians. They were forced to flee their homeland by the repressive Burmese military, which has burned to the ground hundreds of villages, killed thousands of their own people, and put many more into work camps. The military carries out much of its violence under the pretext of stamping out rebel activity, but it seems many are seeking to crush Christianity as well. Voice of the Martyrs tells of a Burmese official who recently stated, “Soon there will be no Christians in this nation. You will only be able to see a Karen person in a picture in a museum.”

Though persecution has been ongoing for many years, this is an especially precarious time for many of our Burmese brothers and sisters. The Thai government is threatening to force Burmese refugees back into Burma in the next couple of weeks, where most would be tortured, raped, or killed.

Many other Burmese Christians are hiding in the Burmese jungle. For example, Mission Network News tells of 100 Karen children in hiding. Vision Beyond Borders is working hard to serve these children and other displaced Burmese Christians. They have produced a helpful 30-day prayer guide that you can download here.

Learn more, pray, and then spread the word.

Ray has had enough of the “vulgarity and ego” in the big game. While I missed the game due to a crazy day of air travel (I was at 36,000 feet for most of the game), what do you think? Was this Super Bowl your last as well?

I have to admit, I don’t regret missing it. I think Ray may be on to something.*

[*Neither I nor Ray speak for TGC as a whole, so please do not interpret this as any kind of "official" TGC position on the Super Bowl. I'm sure this is understood, but just in case .... I can see the blogosphere now: "TGC bans Super Bowl and thinks you should too."]

Ligonier Ministries has done the church a great service by aggregating helpful resources on the doctrine of Justification and the New Perspective on Paul. From Ligonier:

For the past few decades, a paradigm shift in New Testament scholarship has led some researchers to question whether the church has rightly understood first-century Judaism and the apostle Paul. In the name of a “New Perspective on Paul,” certain men are calling for a reassessment of the traditional Pauline understanding of the doctrine of justification, the nature of good works, and other elements essential to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Prominent among these figures is N.T. Wright, bishop of Durham and theologian who in his voluminous writings is demanding a new reading of Paul, even claiming that the Protestant Reformers misunderstood the apostle.

These accusations cannot be easily brushed aside, for they strike at the heart of our entire understanding of salvation. With an aim to analyze the merit of Wright’s claims and expose both the strengths and weaknesses of his approach, the editors of Tabletalk magazine have put together this collection of tools to help Christians discern the errors behind the approach of N.T. Wright. It is our hope that you will find these resources helpful in understanding the biblical doctrine of salvation and for making an informed assessment of the work of Wright and other New Perspective thinkers.

Check out the resources here. Thank you, Ligonier!

D.A. Carson on an all-too-common tendency by Christians:

Because human beings are made in the image of God, there is much that we can do that is worthy and admirable. Theologically speaking, this is the product of “common grace.” But it is possible to be far too impressed by wealth, power, architecture, fame, learning, physical prowess, and technology, with the result that we do not think through the moral and spiritual dimensions of the world around us. We may see the glory, and overlook the shame; we may detect human accomplishments, and neglect the undergirding idolatry; in short, we may be impressed by all that impresses God’s fallen image-bearers, but fail to assess these realities in the light of the cross and in the light of eternity.

[For the Love of God, February 10 entry based on Mark 13.]

As often as the opportunity presents itself we want to announce events that promote gospel-centered ministry. Some of these you may be able to attend while others, just by knowing they exist, will encourage you in your faith and ministry. The event detailed below from Bethesda Baptist Church in Allen Park, MI is such an event.

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UPCOMING EVENT
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Seminar on Ministry with Conrad Mbewe

Conrade Mbewe is a minister of the Gospel – he pastors Kabwata Baptist Church in Lusaka, Zambia. A gifted preacher of God’s Word, Conrad is known in many circles throughout Great Britain and the U.S. as the “African Spurgeon.” Ironically, it is not his  preaching that has earned him that moniker, rather it’s the way God has used him and Kabwata (like God used Spurgeon and the  Met. in the 19th century London) to develop a variety of ministries which bring the Gospel to bear upon both the Church and the  surrounding world.

Whether it’s London, Lusaka, or Detroit, there are biblical truths and paths of wisdom which transcend  geography and cultures, instructing us how to minister to those within and without the Church for Christ. Conrad will be addressing us on these matters and will be doing so from a vantage point refreshingly different from Middle America.

• Breakfast 8:30 am
• Seminar A—A Theology of Ministry
• Break
• Seminar B—Practical Considerations
• Dismissal at or before 12 noon

These seminars are designed for men in or preparing for pastoral and/or vocational ministry.

Bethesda Baptist Church is underwriting this seminar and there is no cost for those attending.

To Register:

call 313-383-8900 or email bbcoffice@comcast.net

When we reflect upon questions of providence, as Christians, we begin to realize the grandness of what we are attempting: We are pondering God’s activity. For all the questions concerning God’s providence, the “why” question is where the reflections end. Paul Helm articulates it this way:

What is impossible for us to do is to provide an intellectually satisfying answer to the “why” question. For asking such a question can only call for the answer, “Because God willed it to be so.”  To the subsequent question, “Why did God will it to be so?” there is no further, illuminating answer.  This is one reason that the pattern of divine providence will, in this life at least, always be a mystery.

In dealing with the providence of God, therefore, we are dealing with matters of ultimate significance for which there is no further explanation.  This does not mean that God is arbitrary or capricious in his dealings with the created universe. What it does mean is that the will of God, and the holy and wise reasons that he has for the exercise of that will, are the highest court of appeal (highest in the logical sense). There cannot be a higher court, and so, unsatisfactory though it may be, we must rest content with the ultimate reference to the will of God.

- Paul Helm, The Providence of God (IVP)

For Christians, Helm’s instruction is wisdom to heed. Further, while as Christians we confess to not have answers to the “why” questions, we can find assurance in God’s goodness as displayed in the good news of his Gospel. His Gospel informs us that while we do not know why he allows earthquakes, famines, disease, and all sorts of calamities, we do know that God does care. We know because he has sent his Son to be slain for sinners and to reconcile those sinners to himself.

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come,nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

What do you do if people start idolizing you or your preaching? “I wouldn’t mind some of that!” you retort. Well, okay, maybe it won’t happen to many of us on a large scale. And most of us have the opposite problem. But, if even one person starts to “follow” you or your sermons excessively (and that can happen in the smallest of congregations), how should you respond?

The Apostle Paul’s answer to preacher-idolatry was, “All things are yours” (1 Cor. 3:21). I was first stunned by this verse 17 years ago when Don Carson lectured on 1 Corinthians 1-3 at the Free Church College in Edinburgh. It began a revolution in my worldview that continues to expand and develop to this day. All things are mine! It’s almost unbelievable, isn’t it? I think Paul knew that too. That’s why in the next verse he expands and underlines it. “Whether Paul or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours.” No wriggle room there is there. He covers everything. But why does Paul introduce this huge truth here? He is primarily addressing the Corinthian problem of idolizing preachers. He begins, “Let no one glory in man, for all things are yours.” The Corinthians had turned godly servants – Paul, Cephas, Apollos – into ungodly masters. By giving exclusive attention and loyalty to one gifted and godly preacher, they were not only enslaving themselves to a man, they were also robbing themselves of the great riches God had distributed throughout His Church and His servants.

Imagine entering your newly-built home for the first time. The builder wants to show you all he has done for you. But you go straight to the kitchen, put your head under the sink, and say again and again, “I love this pipework.” “OK….But….eh…do you not want to see the rest of the house?” “Oh no, I just want to stay here and admire the way this washer fits.”

“All things are yours,” says Paul. In effect he’s saying, “Don’t cut yourself off from God’s riches by only listening to, reading, or following me. Honor me as your pastor, of course, but use all faithful preachers for your spiritual enrichment, because God has scattered his gifts and knowledge throughout the church. Don’t get stuck under the sink when God has given you a whole house to enjoy!”

But Paul doesn’t stop with just “all preachers are yours.” “All things” means “all things.” It includes the church and the world, life and death, present things and future things. But in what sense are all these things ours?

First, all things are for our profit – Every thing, every person, every place, every time, every event is for our benefit and promotes our ultimate interests.

Second, all things are for our pleasure. The Christian can enjoy the little that he owns in a way that the non-Christian millionaire cannot, because the Christian tastes mercy and grace in the smallest crumb and drop that God gives him. But the Christian can even enjoy things that others own in a way the owners themselves cannot! I can wander through the mall and admire the beauty and creativity of the clothes and gadgets even if I will never own them. I can see and enjoy the speed of fast cars, the elegance of sleek yachts, and the architecture of expensive houses in a way that those who own them cannot. I can see God’s wise, beautiful and powerful creativity behind every good thing.

Third, all things will be our possession. People like to say things belong to them. They put their names on buildings and parks and pieces of land. But, ultimately, the meek shall inherit the earth. The land registrar in the new heavens and earth will say, “All things are yours.” Now, all things are mine by promise. Then it shall be possession.

“All things are yours, and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s” (1 Cor. 3:22-23).

Tim Challies continues to plow ahead through his 0ne-year project of reviewing every NYT bestseller at his 10 Million Words blog. One of his latest reviews is of Jeffrey Long’s Evidence of the Afterlife: The Science of Near-Death Experiences. Here’s how he concludes the review:

Of course as a Christian I have to grapple with asking exactly what a NDE [Near Death Experience] is. It seems irrefutable that many people, when gravely injured and often when clinically dead, do experience something. The accounts are too common and too consistent to ignore entirely. So we see that such experiences do appear to exist and that they seem to lead directly away from what the Bible teaches us. What recourse do we have, then, but to state with some confidence that these experiences are somehow a trick of Satan? And would it not be just like the Enemy to use such an experience to convince people of their own divinity–to lead people as far from what is true as is possible? I am persuaded that NDEs do exist but that they exist to deceive, to provide false comfort, to provide false hope, to enslave, to trap, to destroy.

I think Amazon already knows this. Evidence of the Afterlife is filed under Books > Religion & Spirituality > Occult. Well done.

Verdict: Read it if you want to see how Satan continues to ensnare and enslave.

Enjoy the whole review. And be sure to check out others at 10 Million Words for help in understanding a bit more about America through our country’s bestsellers.

The seventh Christ on Campus Initiative (CCI) essay is now available: William Lane Craig, “Five Arguments for God” (30-page PDF | HTML).

William Lane Craig is Research Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology in La Mirada, California. He has authored over thirty books, including Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics and God Is Great, God Is Good: Why Believing in God Is Reasonable and Responsible. Here’s what J. P. Moreland, Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Talbot School of Theology, says of Craig:

It is hard to overstate the impact that William Lane Craig has had for the cause of Christ. He is simply the finest Christian apologist of the last half century and his academic work justifies ranking him among the top 1 percent of practicing philosophers in the Western world. Besides that, he is a winsome ambassador for Christ, an exceptional debater, and a man with the heart of an evangelist. I know him well and can say that he lives a life of integrity and lives out what he believes. I do not know of a single thinker who has done more to raise the bar of Christian scholarship in our generation than Craig. He is one of a kind and I thank God for his life and work.

Craig’s 30-page essay soundly refutes Richard Dawkins’s The God Delusion. Craig concludes,

We’ve examined five traditional arguments for the existence of God in light of modern philosophy, science, and mathematics:

1. the cosmological argument from contingency
2. the kalam cosmological argument based on the beginning of the universe
3. the moral argument based upon objective moral values and duties
4. the teleological argument from fine-tuning
5. the ontological argument from the possibility of God’s existence to his actuality

These are, I believe, good arguments for God’s existence. That is to say, they are logically valid; their premises are true; and their premises are more plausible in light of the evidence than their negations. Therefore, insofar as we are rational people, we should embrace their conclusions.

Here’s the Q&A with the speakers from this week’s 2010 Desiring God Conference for Pastors. On the panel: John Piper, Sam Storms, Eric Mason, and Bob Blincoe. Much pastoral wisdom here.

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