Pilgrim's Progress 10

Well, I have reached the end of Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress. Today I will share a few of my thoughts concerning the tenth stage: Talk of Christian and Hopeful, Temporary, the backslider, the land of Beulah, Christian and Hopeful pass the River, welcome to the Celestial City.

It was so sad to read the conversation between Ignorance and Christian. Ignorance shows that he truly lives up to his name. Ignorance talks of having good thoughts of himself. Christian points out that thoughts about ourselves are only good insomuch as they align with Scripture. Ignorance asks, "When do our thoughts of ourselves agree with the Word of God?" Christian answers, "When we pass the same judgment upon ourselves which the Word passes." He then reminds Ignorance that "There is none righteous, there is none that doth good." Towards the end of their conversation, Christian rightly 'pegs' Ignorance, "Ignorance is thy name, and as thy name is, so art thou."

Later, Christian and Hopeful discuss the causes and method of those who backslide. Hopeful lists four causes and Christian responds with 9 steps or stages in the backsliding process. I found them highly profitable. As you read them see if you can relate with any of them. Use them as a checklist to see if you are currently residing at any of these stages of backsliding.

1. "They draw off their thoughts, all that they may, from the remembrance of God, death, and judgment to come."
2. "Then they cast off by degrees private duties, as closet-prayer, curbing their lusts, watching, sorrow for sin, and the like."
3. "Then they shun the company of lively and warm Christians."
4. "After that they grow cold to public duty, as hearing, reading, godly conference, and the like."
5. "Then they begin to pick holes, as we say, in the coats of some of the godly; and that devilishly, that they may have a seeming colour to throw religion (for the sake of some infirmity they have spied in them) behind their backs."
6. "Then they begin to adhere to and associate themselves with carnal, loose, and wanton men."
7. "Then they give way to carnal and wanton discourses in secret; and glad are they if they can see such things in any that are counted honest, that they may the more boldly do it through their example."
8. "After this they begin to play with little sins openly."
9. "And then, being hardened, they show themselves as they are. Thus, being launched again into the gulf of misery, unless a miracle of grace prevent it, they everlastingly perish in their own deceivings."

In the concluding pages Christian and Hopeful finally approach the Celestial City. Even if you don't read the entire book, I encourage you to read at least the last five or ten pages. Reading them made me long for day when I too will enter the Celestial city. It made me long for the time when my Lord and Savior will welcome me to my heavenly home where I will worship Him face to face for all eternity.

Jesusanity? (by Peter Brock)

Today, I want to direct your attention to a book that was published this past year entitled, Dethroning Jesus: Exposing Popular Culture's Quest to Unseat the Biblical Christ by Darrell L. Bock and Daniel B. Wallace. The book is a type of apologetic; defending the divinity of Christ in today's postmodern climate of "humanizing" Him. It was written as response to the quest to reduce Jesus to a mythic legend or to nothing more than a mere man. As Al Mohler comments, "The real issue in Jesusanity is not humanizing Jesus, but denying His deity."
As believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, it is vital that we understand the importance and significance of Christ's diety to our faith. I've included a paragraph from the book that I hope will encourage you to gain deeper understanding in this area.

"Jesusanity" is a coined term for the alternative story about Jesus. Here the center of the story is still Jesus, but Jesus as either a prophet or a teacher of religious wisdom. In Jesusanity, Jesus remains very much Jesus of Nazareth. He points the way to God and leads people into a journey with God. His role is primarily one of teacher, guide, and example. Jesus' special status involves his insight into the human condition and the enlightenment he brings to it. There is no enthronement of Jesus at God's side, only the power of his teaching and example. In this story, the key is that Jesus inspires others, but there is no throne for him. He is one among many – the best, perhaps, and one worthy to learn from and follow."

Read a Good Book Lately? (by Peter Brock)

Reading is an activity that I greatly enjoy. There is nothing like grabbing a good book and settling down for a few hours of reading. One of my goals each year is to read one book a month (minimum) related to personal spiritual growth or ministry. In conjunction with that reading, I am usually reading a book that interests me personally. In the personal interest category I have recently finished, Sailors to the End and The Forgotten 500, both by Gregory Freeman. I'm presently reading A Man on the Moon by Andrew Chaikin. The book is a great account of the Apollo space program. Just a few days ago I picked up The Day of Battle by Rick Atkinson, a book recounting the Allied war effort of WW2 in Sicily and Italy. (All of the above mentioned books were borrowed from the Winter Haven Library, they have a nice collection of older and recent releases.)

On the personal growth and ministry side of things, I usually have several books "in process" at the same time. The book that is getting most of my attention in the ministry arena is Simple Church by Thom Rainer and Eric Geiger.  Famine in the Land by Steven Lawson, and Membership Matters by Chuck Lawless have both been very helpful as well. Two personal growth books that have challenged me and continue to do so are Total Abandon by Gary Witherall, (it will make you cry and inspire you), and The Valley of Vision, a collection of Puritan prayers edited by Arthur Bennett.

The reading of Scripture is by far the best reading that you will ever do. May we never sacrifice the reading of the Word of God for any other reading. Below is a list of 20 reasons why we should read a good Christian book, after God's Word, of course. Let these reasons challenge you to pick up a book that grabs your interest and read, read, read.

The list below was compiled by Colin Adams, Associate Pastor with Charlotte Baptist Chapel in Edinburgh, Scotland. His blog is Unashamed Workman.

20 Reasons to Read (Good Christian Books)…

1. You will grow in your knowledge of God, yourself and the world around you
2. You will gain a better understanding of the bible, the book of books
3. You will broaden your English vocabulary, helping you to express similar truths to your congregation in fresh ways
4. You will have an improved imagination and actively engage your mind in a way that probably won’t occur when watching TV
5. You will be able to sit at the feet of some of the great Christian teachers and minds over the centuries (even if you have few ‘living’ teachers to assist you)
6. You will be forced to cease from incessant activity and think
7. You will receive a historical perspective on current problems and spot present day blind spots
8. You will have some of your questions answered and confront other questions you hadn’t even thought of.
9. You will be able to practically apply Paul’s command to think upon “wholesome” things
10. You will develop a sense of how arguments are constructed and be able to weigh both strong and weak arguments
11. You will enjoy spiritual input during the week, not just on a Sunday (if not a pastor)
12. You will (if a pastor) be able to engage with other issues beyond this week’s text, thus broadening your perspective.
13. You will be able to mull over a subject. You will be able to put the book down to think, chew over a sentence or re-read a paragraph. You will be able to exploring an issue at length, rather than brush over a topic too quickly
14. You will be better prepared for the task of evangelism, after reading clear presentations of the gospel by great communicators
15. You will be better prepared for the task of discipleship, having a good way to open up discussion about Christian life issues (what are you reading?)
16. You will be made aware of how Christians interpret and apply Scripture differently in various cultural contexts
17. You will gain information for your ignorance, inspiration for your weariness, and insight for complex problems
18. You will be better equipped to lead in your church, marriage and family
19. You will be stimulated, as in a good conversation, to new lines of thinking
20. You will be drawn to worship God, especially when the book centres on God not man

Pilgrim's Progress 9

Well here it is. Finally! Sorry it has taken so long. Then again, I'm not sure that anyone else is actually reading this book along with me. So, perhaps I have no need to appologize.

Today we have reached the Ninth Stage in our study of John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress. For more information regarding this study click HERE. Also, remember that we are going to discuss the book according to the various stages detailed HERE.

In this stage, Christian and Hopeful meet Ignorance and soon recognize that he has taken a different path to get to where he is. Christian warns that Ignorance will not be granted admittance to the Celestial City because he did not begin his journey by passing through the wicket-gate. Ignorance's reply is all to familiar to us today, "Be content to follow the religion of your country, and I will follow the religion of mind. I hope all will be well." We here this so often today. We are so often told that it doesn't matter what we believe. As long as we are sincere in our beliefs, whatever they are, we will all get to heaven in the end. Unfortunately, that is not what the Bible teaches. The Bible teaches that there is one way, the narrow way. This is the path of Christian and Hopeful. This is the path that we must follow. It is not a path of ease and comfort. But it is the path that leads to priceless treasure.

Later in this stage, Christian and Hopeful come across the Enchanted Ground and resolve to talk to each other so that they do not fall asleep on this dangerous ground. Christian then asks Hopeful to share what we might call his "salvation testimony." In doing so Hopeful gives a helpful illustration. "If a man runs a hundred pounds into the shopkeeper's debt, and after that shall pay for all that he shall fetch, yet his old debt stands still in the book uncrossed; for the which the shopkeeper may sue him, and cast him into prison till he shall pay the debt."

Some people today think that if we live good lives from now on then God will accept us into Heaven. The reality is that we have past debts which must be paid for. It is not good enough for us to do good from here on out. We must make amends for our past sins. The problem is that we cannot make amends. We are incapable of paying our sin debt. Only Christ can do that.

Hopeful understood all of this. He talks of what was taught to him by Faithful. "He (Faithful) told me (Hopeful) that unless I could obtain the righteousness of a man that never had sinned, neither mine own, nor all the righeousness of the world could save me." Praise God for our 'debt-payer.' Hallelujah what a Savior!

Well, we are reaching the end of this first part. Next time I will share my thoughts from the last stage.

A Chosen Instrument (by Stephen Simpson)

In Acts 9, we read of Saul's conversion. We should be familiar with this story. Saul is on the road to Damascus and is stopped by Jesus. The thing that struck me as I read this passage today was verse 15. In this verse, the Lord speaks to Ananias and says, "Go, for he (Saul) is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel."

It is amazing to me to consider that God chose to use Saul. Saul was doing everything within his power to eliminate the church. He was rounding up Christians. He was participating in their martyrdom (see Acts 7:51; 8:1). Saul was definitely anti-Christian. He was utterly opposed to everything Christian. Yet, God miraculously chose to use Him. He desribes Saul as one of His chosen instruments. Unbelievable!

Then I realized how amazing it is that God has chosen to use me. I was just like Saul, anti-Christian and totally opposed to the things of Christ. Yet, God miraculously saved me. Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Am I Awed by the Awesome One? (by Peter Brock)

Yesterday I came across an article entitled, "When Awe is Absent". It was written by Tony Woodlief of World magazine and it caused me to hesitate and take an inward look. I'm including two separate portions of the article here and I encourage you to read it in its entirety. I've provided a link at the end of this entry. May the article challenge you as it did me to not relegate God and His Word to "tertiary status" in our lives.
____________________________________________________

"After the Pentecost, and after Peter assembled the first Christian megachurch by preaching to the multitudes, we read in the book of Acts: “Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.” I’ve always been suspicious of people who exuberantly declare their awe at God, and doubly suspicious of people who try to elicit the same emotion from me. Genuine awe, in my limited experience, doesn’t inspire chattiness. Then again, I can’t expect my inner workings to be true of everyone; awe inspires some people to spout praise, just as it leaves me dumbfounded."

"...God is “the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and lovingkindness.” An awesome God, thoughtfully considered, should inspire awe. But how I feel — and perhaps this is true for you as well — is determined by what I believe. My lack of awe stems from my habit of relegating the word and the Word to tertiary status. I am often not in awe because I am often not thinking about the Lord. I fall into the trap of confining “God time” to a church service or a prayer, and keeping it entirely separate from the rest of “my” time. I think that kind of disintegration prohibits spiritual fullness. “Be strong and courageous,” the Lord said to Joshua. “Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

He is with me, but I am not always with Him."

Full article

A Puritan Prayer - The Saviour

The Lord has used various prayers of the Puritans this past year to stretch my faith and challenge me in a number of areas regarding my walk with Christ. The richness of the prayers and their honesty cut to the heart of who God is and our response to Him in our daily spiritual lives. Our family has adopted the following prayer entitled, "The Saviour", as a commitment for 2008. May it challenge you as it has us.
___________________________________________________________
Thou God of all grace,
Thou has given me a Saviour,
produce in me a faith to live by him,
to make him all my desire,
all my hope,
all my glory.

May I enter him as my refuge,

build on him as my foundation,

walk in him as my way,

follow him as my guide,

conform to him as my example,

receive his instructions as my prophet,

rely on his intercession as my high priest,

obey him as my king.

May I never be ashamed of him or his words,

but joyfully bear his reproach,

never displease him by unholy or imprudent conduct,

never count it a glory if I take it patiently when buffeted for a fault,

never make the multitude my model,

never delay when thy Word invites me to advance.

May thy dear Son preserve me from this present evil world,

so that its smiles never allure,

nor its frowns terrify,

nor its vices defile,

nor its errors delude me.

May I feel that I am a stranger and a pilgrim on earth,

declaring plainly that I seek a country,

my title to it becoming daily more clear,

my meetness for it more perfect,

my foretastes of it more abundant;

and whatsoever I do may it be done in the Saviour's name.

Pilgrim's Progress 8

Sorry for the delay in this post. Last Monday was Christmas Eve and I just didn't get it done. So here it is today.

Today we have reached the Eighth Stage: The Delectable Mountains, entertained by the Shepherds, a by-way to Hell.

This was by far the shortest section we have read so far. Pilgrim and Hopeful come to the delectable mountains and meet the shepherds. I think my favorite part was when the Shepherds allowed Pilgrim and Hopeful to see the gates of the Celestial City through their perspective glass. I enjoyed the song that Pilgrim and Hopeful sang,

Thus by the Shepherds secrets are revealed,
Which from all other men are kept concealed.
Come to the Shepherds then, if you would see
Things deep, things hid, and that mysterious be.

I read this poem and was reminded of the Shepherds who witnessed the birth of Christ. The 'secret' was revealed to them first and was concealed from others.

That's about all I got from this section. I was probably too distracted as I read it. It's still the holidays.

Let me know your thoughts. Next Monday, we'll discuss the Ninth Stage: Christian and Hopeful meet Ignorance, Turn-away, Little-Faith, the Flatterer, the net, chastised by a Shining One, Atheist, Enchanted Ground, Hopeful's account of his conversion, discours of Christian and Ignorance.

Christmas Eve and the Return of the Rabbit (by Peter Brock)

Some "day after" Christmas thoughts-

- Had a great day at home with family
- Gift cards are sooooo nice to get and receive
- The story of Christmas in Luke 2 never gets old
- I can't wait to take my wife to an evening in Tampa for her Christmas gift
- Opening the gifts always seems to happen too quickly
- I was blessed by the Christmas Eve service at church
- During our family Christmas Eve candlelight dinner our neighbor came to the door with our pet rabbit that had fled it's cage over two weeks ago. The return of the rabbit has been greeted with a less than enthusiastic response.
- It is increasingly difficult to focus on the simple things of Christmas
- More "stuff" isn't a good thing
- My brother sent me another addition to a rather odd Christmas collection
- Molly Mo, a mini Dachshund, is now a part of our family
- I still can't believe that the rabbit is back
- It would have been "cool" to be one of the shepherds that the angel appeared to
- In Luke 2:13-14, when the multitude of the heavenly host praised God and said to the shepherds, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!", it must have been an unbelievable experience.
- I was reminded once again of the God-Man, Jesus Christ, coming to earth as a sacrifice to provide redemption from the penalty of my sins. WOW

Poetry and Theology (by Bobby Thompson)

I have a love / hate relationship with poetry. When I understand it I love it, when I do not understand it I hate it. I believe one of the greatest applications of poetry is when great spiritual truths are conveyed in it. When poetry and theology come together it is a powerful wedding of truth with emotion. No one does this better than John Piper (in my opinion). The following is one example of his many works of poetry. This poem was written to his son just before his wedding. The truth he is communicating is that he should love his wife above all else - besides God. His wife will find love and security in his love for God. Listen to how he masterfully and beautifully communicates this:

"Love Her More and Love Her Less"

By John Piper May 29, 1995

For Karsten Luke Piper
At His Wedding to
Rochelle Ann Orvis
May 29, 1995

The God whom we have loved, and in
Whom we have lived, and who has been
Our Rock these twenty-two good years
With you, now bids us, with sweet tears,
To let you go: "A man shall leave
His father and his mother, cleave
Henceforth unto his wife, and be
One unashaméd flesh and free."
This is the word of God today,
And we are happy to obey.
For God has given you a bride
Who answers every prayer we've cried
For over twenty years, our claim
For you, before we knew her name.

And now you ask that I should write
A poem - a risky thing, in light
Of what you know: that I am more
The preacher than the poet or
The artist. I am honored by
Your bravery, and I comply.
I do not grudge these sweet confines
Of rhyming pairs and metered lines.
They are old friends. They like it when
I bid them help me once again
To gather feelings into form
And keep them durable and warm.

And so we met in recent days,
And made the flood of love and praise
And counsel from a father's heart
To flow within the banks of art.
Here is a portion of the stream,
My son: a sermon poem. It's theme:
A double rule of love that shocks;
A doctrine in a paradox:

If you now aim your wife to bless,
Then love her more and love her less.

If in the coming years, by some
Strange providence of God, you come
To have the riches of this age,
And, painless, stride across the stage
Beside your wife, be sure in health
To love her, love her more than wealth.

And if your life is woven in
A hundred friendships, and you spin
A festal fabric out of all
Your sweet affections, great and small,
Be sure, no matter how it rends,
To love her, love her more than friends.

And if there comes a point when you
Are tired, and pity whispers, "Do
Yourself a favor. Come, be free;
Embrace the comforts here with me."
Know this! Your wife surpasses these:
So love her, love her, more than ease.

And when your marriage bed is pure,
And there is not the slightest lure
Of lust for any but your wife,
And all is ecstasy in life,
A secret all of this protects:
Go love her, love her, more than sex.

And if your taste becomes refined,
And you are moved by what the mind
Of man can make, and dazzled by
His craft, remember that the "why"
Of all this work is in the heart;
So love her, love her more than art.

And if your own should someday be
The craft that critics all agree
Is worthy of a great esteem,
And sales exceed your wildest dream,
Beware the dangers of a name.
And love her, love her more than fame.

And if, to your surprise, not mine,
God calls you by some strange design
To risk your life for some great cause,
Let neither fear nor love give pause,
And when you face the gate of death,
Then love her, love her more than breath.

Yes, love her, love her, more than life;
O, love the woman called your wife.
Go love her as your earthly best.

Beyond this venture not. But, lest
Your love become a fool's facade,
Be sure to love her less than God.

It is not wise or kind to call
An idol by sweet names, and fall,
As in humility, before
A likeness of your God. Adore
Above your best beloved on earth
The God alone who gives her worth.
And she will know in second place
That your great love is also grace,
And that your high affections now
Are flowing freely from a vow
Beneath these promises, first made
To you by God. Nor will they fade
For being rooted by the stream
Of Heaven's Joy, which you esteem
And cherish more than breath and life,
That you may give it to your wife.

The greatest gift you give your wife
Is loving God above her life.
And thus I bid you now to bless:
Go love her more by loving less.

Pilgrim's Progress 7

(Hopeful joins Christian)

Welcome to our online book study of Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress. For more information regarding this study click HERE. Also, remember that we are going to discuss the book according to the various stages detailed HERE.

Today we have reached the Seventh Stage: Christian and Hopeful, By-ends and his companions, plain of Ease, Lucre-hill, Demas, the River of Life, Vain-Confidence, Giant Despair, the Pilgrims beaten, the Dungeon, the Key of Promise.

This section was one of the longer ones we have read so far. If you recall, at the end of the Sixth Stage, Faithful was martyred. At the beginning of the Seventh Stage, we see Christian with a new travelling companion, Hopeful. Bunyan writes a great line at this point, "Thus one died to bear testimony to the truth, and another rises out of his ashes to be a companion to Christian in his pilgrimage." Hopeful, emboldened by the witness of Christian and Faithful, joins himself with Christian.

The next several pages contain Christian & Hopeful's encounter with By-Ends and his companions. It struck me that By-ends religion is very similar to the Prosperity Gospel that we hear taught so often today. By-Ends advocates seeking gain and profit through religion. He forsakes any notion of suffering for Christ. He follows Christ as long as everything in his life is going well. When, crisis comes, however, he gives up on Christ. I found it remarkable to considier the similarities between what By-Ends and his companions say and what so many say today. It is especially remarkable considering Bunyan wrote these words over 300 years ago.

Another highlight for me occurred when Christian and Hopeful had passed the hill Lucre and came to the monument reminding them of Lot's wife. Hopeful expresses his regret over desiring to go see the treasure which Demas offered. Hopeful wonders why he was not turned to a pillar of salt for acting just like Lot's wife. Then he exclaims, "Let grace be adored, and let me be ashamed that ever such a thing should be in mine heart." What a statement. Let grace be adored! Let us be like Hopeful. Let us truly adore God's grace towards us.

Your Turn

I would love to hear from any of you who are reading this book with me. Are you enjoying this study? Do you find Bunyan's book difficult to read? What has challenged you or encouraged you?

Next Week

Next Monday, we will discuss the Eighth Stage: The Delectable Mountains, enterained by the Shepherds, a by-way to Hell. Join us then.

Marks of the True Christian (by Stephen Simpson)

This morning I read Romans 12:9-13. My Bible offers this heading for that section, "Marks of the True Christian." As I read these verses I asked myself if these 'marks' characterize my life. Let's take a moment and consider this "spiritual checklist."

• Let love be genuine - Do I love sincerely and without hypocrisy? Notice that there is no stated object for this love. It is wide open. Do I love God genuinely? Do I love ____ genuinely?
• Abhor what is evil - Do I recognize evil? Do I detest it? Does evil cause me to be horrified?
• Hold fast to what is good - Do I cleave or stick to what is good? Am I able to identify what is good? This one seems to work in conjunction with the previous one. In other words, "Abhor evil and cleave to what is good!"
• Love one another with brotherly affection - Do I love my brothers and sisters in Christ? How do I demonstrate love to them?
• Outdo one another in showing honor - How far am I willing to go to honor my brother?
• Do not be slothful in zeal - Am I 'slothful' in regards to my spiritual responsibilities? Am I a lazy Christian?
• Be fervent in spirit - Do I 'boil over' for Christ? What am I most fervent about in my life?
• Serve the Lord - How do I serve the Lord? How did I serve Him today? yesterday?
• Rejoice in hope - Am I genuinely cheerful at the hope I have in Jesus Christ?
• Be patient in tribulation - Does my patience grow during trials or does my patience disappear? Do I persevere when under pressure?
• Be constant in prayer - How many minutes of each day do I spend alone in prayer? 5? 10? 30?
• Contribute to the needs of the saints - How do I help meet the needs of my brothers in Christ?
• Seek to show hospitality - Do I actively seek to show hospitality to total strangers?