Eschatology Today

Inaugurated Eschatology: (n.) The wonderful already-but-not-yet tension and reality of redemption. Read the theological reflections of Pastor Jay and others around him below. This is a great place to dialog about the beauties of the Gospel!

Manuscript Preachers - Just When You Thought You Had the Trump Card!

Many men who defend on principle the use of a full manuscript to preach from use Jonathan Edwards as a case in point of a brilliant, model pastor-theologian from which we should be careful to part ways with in terms of ministry principles. In particular, he is often cited as a preacher who read his sermons, word for word, in a weak voice, for over an hour. Check out this interesting factoid by my good friend Stephen Witmer, a pastor-theologian in his own right, out in New England, from his blog last week.

On Thursday we drove to Yale University and had the amazing privilege of visiting the Jonathan Edwards Center (meeting there with Adriaan Neele and Ken Minkema) and then going to the Beinecke Library to see some of Jonathan Edwards' original works. Of the several things we saw, the most amazing was the manuscript of Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, perhaps the most famous sermon in American history. I have read it multiple times before and it is a great, God-centered sermon -- not the terrible sermon portrayed in so many modern high school classes. Amazingly, we were allowed to touch the tiny, palm-sized manuscript and turn its pages. One of the things I learned for the first time in this visit was that Edwards preached this sermon multiple times in multiple locations. I saw a small piece of paper the size of an index card on which he had jotted the main points of the sermon to help him remember them. This reminder card was used when he had preached the sermon before and simply wanted a reminder as he preached it again, rather than preaching from the original manuscript.

Now, this does not mean you have to preach from notes or extemporaneously, but just wanted us all be honest that this is much more about preference than a theological principledness.

The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment

If you are like me, from time to time, or a lot of the time, you struggle with contentment. Maybe contentment is tied to your job, or your talents, or to your relationships, or maybe even to your spiritual maturity...maybe all of the above and more.

I few months ago I heard about this little puritan work, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, written by one of the lesser known puritan pastors, Jeremiah Burroughs. I stole a copy from a cohort and started to read it (I guess I should read about the 8th commandment next?). I'm only in the third chapter, but I have found Burrough's thoughts a spot on treatment of what discontent is and how the gospel combats it. If you struggle with being content, I recommend this very insightful little book. Burroughs really gets at the heart of the matter. The message is simple and, if embraced, not only does one find growth in the area of contentment but what the gospel provides once you really start to apply it to all of life...abundant joy.

http://www.amazon.com/Rare-Jewel-Christian-Contentment/dp/B002NEEWJQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1255638059&sr=8-1

My Son is a Charismatic or My Joy in Peter's Joy in His Redeemer

My son has become a charismatic. He believes that, while particular in the frequency and character of manifestations vis a vis special ages and points in redemptive history, that the Holy Spirit's work to make the presence and power of Jesus known is as real and as categorically broad as it has ever been, including the miraculous, the prophetic, and joy producing. While not an essential of charismatic theology, he is also wired in such a way that he wants to physically move in response to Biblical truth in the musical praise of the Father, through Jesus, in the Spirit's strength.

In a chapel at the classical Christian school he attends, it was relayed to us that during a worship song Peter was closing his eyes and raising his hands. My wife asked Peter about this. Peter said: "Mom, we were singing about lifting Jesus' name up high, so I was, you know, like, lifting his name up. My praise was being lifted up to God." Rebecca continued to ask if he had seen anyone do this before. He had (thanks Nathan and Danielle!!), but it was clear that Peter owned his posture of praise. Rebecca and I are charismatics with a seat belt, or open but cautious, however you want to spin that. We are not cessationists by Biblical conviction. By temperament, we are not uber-charismatics, but it seems as Jesus more fully rules our hearts, I am observing, that we are becoming more-truth-oriented-and-Jesus-anchored-emotional-and-physical in our responses and actions toward God in worship and life. Peter seems to have gotten a head start in life.

Our response: caution and release. First, we caution him to be sensitive to his community. Whether because of unhealthy stodginess or proper silence and stillness, Peter needs to be sensitive in his forms of worship so as to complement the whole, not bombard it. Second, we want to unleash him to praise God in the fullness of his emotions and his very being as long as it is a response to truth, to the person of Christ, and is edifying to those around him. In fact, friends, it brings me the most joy to know my son loves to exalt God with all that is within him. What greater joy can a parent have? I know no other.

So, my son might end up being a charismatic - maybe one of those Sovereign Grace guys or Acts 29. I probably won't (probably...we'll see). But, I am so proud of him and I find that joy in me is produced by his joy in His redeemer. That is the way God intends it. We are all to find joy in one another's joy in our Redeemer. That is a true pursuit of joy.

We'll see how Ellie, Ethan, and Reid turn out. I'm sure we'll have a more buttoned up Presbyterian come out of this family, too. As long as he or she is aflame with God, then my joy will continue to deepen.

So, if your child ends up being a charismatic, at least in temperament, praise God yourself! If they are also Reformed and prize the local church, then, friend, you can go ahead and ask God to rapture you...you've seen your life's work accomplished.

Check Out this Helpful Dialogue on Eschatology