Puritan Spirituality and American Evangelicalism

Here's the promised second part of Packer's three particular points of contrast between the Puritans and American evangelicals:

We observe that whereas the experimental piety of the Puritans was natural and unselfconscious, because it was so utterly God-centered, our own (such as it is) is too often artificial and boastful, because it is so largely concerned with ourselves. Our interest focuses on religious experience, as such, and on man's quest for God, whereas the Puritans were concerned with the God of whom men have experience, and in the manner of his dealings with those whom he draws to himself. The difference of interest comes out clearly when we compare Puritan spiritual autobiography—Grace Abounding, say, or Baxter's autobiography, or the memoirs of Fraser of Brea—with similar works of our own day. In modern spiritual autobiography, the hero and chief actor is usually the writer himself; he is the centre of interest, and God comes in only as a part of his story. His theme is in effect 'I—and God.' But in Puritan autobiography, God is at the centre throughout. He, not the writer, is the focus of interest; the subject of the book is in effect 'God—and me.' The pervasive God-centredness of Puritan accounts of spiritual experience is a proof of their authenticity, and a source of their power to present God to the modern reader. But when experience of God is told in a dramatised and self-glorifying way, it is a sure sign that the experience itself, however poignant, lacked depth, if, indeed, it was genuine at all (A Quest for Godliness, Packer, 216-217).

This description by Packer resonates with my experience of the Puritans and of modern evangelicalism. The sheer God-centeredness of the Puritans stands starkly over against our utter man-centeredness. So once again, I thank God for the Puritans (and many others, even some contemporaries who've followed in the train of God-centeredness that goes all the way back to the Bible itself) for leading me to God, not man, not self.

The Un-Mission Mission

Last Lord's Day, New Covenant Church of Naperville, our home church, heard the third of three consecutive messages on the church's central mission: speading ahead the Word to triumph in the world.  "Gossiping the Gospel," as Jacob Reynolds (following Stott, I believe) put it two weeks ago. This past Sunday pastor Matt Newkirk brought a word about the Word from Genesis 11. You may listen to the exposition here, which was quite good. 

Matt gave us four characteristics of "unmission" from Genesis 11:1-9:

1) Unmission is fueled by an overestimation of self
2) Unmission is fueled by an underestimation of God
3) Unmission results in frustration
4) Unmission is cured by the Great Commission

In applying how the mission of the church works out for the corporate body, made up of many parts (Matt reminded us that the hand is not a mouth, but does have a role in relation to the mouth), Matt encouraged a corporate mentality of evangelism and missions. He said that while every member of the church is not gifted to be a mouthpiece, everyone can do the following:

1) Pray
2) Invite someone to church
3) Support a missionary financially
4) Look for opportunities to share Christ

This sort of corporate mentality in thinking about the Great Commission is, I believe, an area where at least the individualistically-oriented American church needs to grow immensely. In my judgment, we have work to do in continuing to think through more thoroughly every-member ecclesiatical evangelism and global missions. Perhaps more on this later.

The Most Beautiful Among Women

From time to time I'm overwhelmed with God's grace to me. Frequently this happens as I experience what a gift my wife Emily is. She is, without question, the most beautiful among women. When I married her, I knew she was beautiful. But the half hadn't been told or revealed to me! I might say with Job, with different wording and application, that I had heard of God's handiwork with the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees! A wonderful wife's worth is simply incalculable. O the depths of the riches! My wife's worth is above gold, yes, even fine gold, and the jewels adorning her, they outshine the brightest of them all.

My council to younger men: in seeking a wife, you ought not to undervalue the wisdom and glory of God's Word on this matter. You ignore God's Word here at your peril. Wounds and sorrow will you get for yourself if you choose a wife unwisely. So, dear younger brothers in the faith, take heed to God's wise Word as you seek a helper and life-long companion. It's the second most important step and act of trust you will ever make.

Puritan Spirituality and American Evangelicalism

Yesterday in a tribute to the Puritans and thanks to God I posted that I would be giving three particular Packer-produced points of contrast between the Puritans and American evangelicals. The first is this:

We cannot but conclude that whereas to the Puritans communion with God was a great thing, to evangelicals today it is a comparatively small thing. The Puritans were concerned about communion with God in a way that we are not. The measure of our unconcern is the little that we say about it. When Christians meet, they talk to each other about their Christian work and Christian interests, their Christian acquaintances, the state of the churches, and the problems of theology—but rarely of their daily experiences of God. Modern Christian books and magazines contain much about Christian doctrine, Christian standards, problems of Christian conduct, techniques of Christian service—but little about the inner realities of fellowship with God. Our sermons contain much sound doctrine—but little relating to the converse between the soul and the Savior. We do not spend much time, alone or together, in dwelling on the wonder of the fact that God and sinners have communion at all; no, we just take that for granted, and give our minds to other matters. Thus we make it plain that communion with God is a small thing to us. But how different were the Puritans! (A Quest for Godliness, Packer, 215-216).

This was written in 1990. And while I think the point stands strongly, I do think that there has been an awakening in certain quarters to the life of communion with God. I also think, however, that there has also perhaps been a worsening of the situation in other quarters.

Thankful for the Puritans

Among the many blessings for which I am thankful today, this Thanksgiving, in the year of our Lord 2010, I'm deeply thankful for the Puritans. Yes, I'm talking about the lot that came to America who not only get short shrift in the terrible history textbooks of our times, but also who get repeatedly (this continues) misunderstand and even slandered. 

In tribute to them and gratitude to God, I want to post a short series of posts in the next few days that set Puritan spirituality over against American evangelicalism. This helps, I think, with perspective. We tend to think way too much of ourselves, not realizing that many of our forebears in the faith outstripped us in so many ways, putting our faith to shame, making me want to weep from time to time over the present state of our Christian experience. To give some perspective on the Puritans, I want to turn to J. I. Packer's A Quest for Godliness, which I've already done at this blog a number of times.

Anyone who knows anything at all about Puritan Christianity knows that at its best it had a vigour, a manliness, and a depth which modern evangelical piety largely lacks. This is because Puritanism was essentially an experimental faith, a religion of 'heart-work,' a sustainded practice of seeking the face of God, in a way that our own Christianity too often is not. The Puritans were manlier Christians just because they were godlier Christians (A Quest for Godliness, 215).

Packer then goes on to give three particular points of contrast between the Puritans and American evangelicals.  More on this on the morrow.  For now, Thank you, Gracious God and Heavenly Father, for giving the Puritans to the church as a portion of our rich heritage. "The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful heritage" (Ps. 16:6).

Politics Put in Proper Perspective

Amid our politically charged atmosphere, putting politics in proper perspective is in order. On second thought, putting politics in proper perspective is always in order. And Isaiah 6 does this handily. So it would be good for us to ponder it often—and see the political powers that be in the light of the glory of the Lord.

"In the year that king Uzziah died. . . " (Isa. 6:1). He had reigned some forty years. But there he lay, motionless, breathless, lifeless. I'd say he lacked the royal dignity and public pomp once characterizing his reign as he lay there a bag of decomposing bones. Over against Uzziah's finite life and reign, Isaiah sees "the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up" (Isa. 6:1). Uzziah is long gone; YHWH is still reigning. For as another Scripture tells us,YHWH is King forever: "YHWH sat enthroned at the flood; YHWH sits enthroned, King forever" (Ps. 29:10; translation mine). He rules in salvation and judgment over the nations, and the most potent potentates fade before his majesty. 

Another important text that comes to mind in the wake of North Korea's inflamatory in-your-face actions against South Korea is Ps. 46:8-11:

Come, behold the works of YHWH,
how he has wrought desolations on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
'Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!'
YHWH of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

A Diabolical Science

Calvin, commenting on Ps. 29, speaks this wisdom:

Philosophers think not that they have reasoned skillfully enough about inferior causes, unless they separate God very far from his works. It is a diabolical science, however, which fixes our contemplations on the works of nature, and turns them away from God.

We could substitute, today, naturalistic scientists (and those who unwaveringly bow before and follow them) in the place of naturalistic philosophers. But the same diabolical science is still practiced and believed, separating God very far from his works. Naturalism and functional deism, as I've noted before, have a stranglehold on our society. Sadly this all too often includes professing Christians who, reading the likes of Ps. 29, should know better. We should be ashamed of how little we acknowledge God's almighty hand in the created order. Those in his temple should be incessantly shouting, "Glory!" (Ps. 29:9). 

O show us your glory, thundering God of glory, O show us your holy majesty and might, that we might give you, YHWH, the glory due your name, and worship you in the splendor of holiness.

Through the Precious Blood

Following the same vein as the last post, here's another song, this time from Sovereign Grace Praise, that Em and I have been enjoying and laying up: Through the Precious Blood.  The lyrics are by Mark Altrogge with Sovereign Grace Praise.  It's from the Come Weary Saints CD.

You have ordained every breath we take
In pleasure or pain, there is no mistake
Gladness and grief, both are in Your hand
And sufferings brief carry out Your plan
And our fleeting sorrows
Will yield an endless prize
When some bright tomorrow
We’ll see You with our eyes, and

Grace upon grace flows down, flows down
Grace upon grace flows down, flows down
Through the precious blood of Christ

Father of lights, Giver of all grace
Your mercies crown our lives all our days
River of Life, quench our thirsty souls
For no true delight does Your love withhold
And in every season
We are satisfied
For just one reason
Christ was crucified, and

All good gifts, every good thing
Comes to us freely, so freely
All good gifts, every good thing
Comes to us freely, so freely
Through the precious blood
Through the precious blood

© 2008 Sovereign Grace Praise (BMI)

When Trials Come

One of the routines my wife and I have developed is one of routinely considering the pain and suffering coming our way at God's sovereign appointment.  Doesn't sound fun, does it?  Sound morbid?  Perhaps.  It could be.  Or perhaps, and more likely, it's a sober practice to help prevent inebriation with the silliness and banality and superficiality of our world—this world that numbs us so thoroughly with television and entertainment and vacations and so on, all the way up to the day of meeting the Judge of all the earth, who will consign each to everlasting heaven or everlasting hell.  Perhaps this routine then is part of what God is using to steel us and give us backbone to prepare for our terminal cancer or brain injury or heart attack or lost baby or fierce persecution or whatever (our fill-in-the-blank day of dark news).  And I highly recommend it.

This routine includes regularly laying up Scripture, not least the promises of God; praying for God to make us ready for the day when death beckons, not least if it comes early; and also laying up Gospel-soaked lyrics from psalms, hymns, and Spirit-songs.  What follows is one such Gospel song which we've enjoyed and pondered of late.  It's called When Trials Come, written by the Gettys. 

When trials come, no longer fear
For in the pain our God draws near
To fire a faith worth more than gold
And there his faithfulness is told
And there his faithfulness is told

Within the night I know your peace
The breath of God brings strength to me
And new each morning mercy flows
As treasures of the darkness grow
As treasures of the darkness grow

I turn to wisdom not my own
For every battle You have known
My confidence will rest in You
Your love endures; Your ways are good
Your love endures; Your ways are good

When I am weary of the cost
I see the triumph of the cross
So in its shadow I shall run
Till You complete the work begun
Till You complete the work begun

One day all things will be made new
I'll see the hope You called me to
And in Your kingdom, paved with gold
I'll praise Your faithfulness of old
I'll praise Your faithfullness of old

—Keith and Kristin Getty, 2005 Thankyou Music

The Road Not Taken

Robert Frost (1874-1963) wrote a famliar poem often seen and quoted.  For example, my wife has routinely heard and seen it in the public school system.  In the right context, the poem is inspiring.  Applied to the wrong context, it is frightening.  But since I like it a good deal, I'll reproduce it here.  It's called The Road Not Taken.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

(For biographical background, click here.)

Sermon on Missions for Middle America

Now two Sundays ago, New Covenant Church Pastor Andrew Fulton preached on Rom. 15:14-21.  The sermon is titled Motivated by Mission.  I'm not sure I've ever heard a more stirring call to world missions.  It certainly was the most solid and salutary message on missions for Middle America that I've ever heard.  I highly commend it.  Not least for Napervillians!  But a word to the wise: have a listen when you're pride won't keep you from hearing aright.  Maybe the sovereign Spirit will be pleased to blow on you and fan into a flame a renewed or brand new passion for King Jesus' global cause and fame. 

Were one able to watch this sermon on video, I would also commend it as a model of both clear structure and flow in the sermon along with freedom in the pulpit from a manuscript.  Andrew, still a young man (thirty-one, if I'm not mistaken), possesses considerable gifts.  And one I appreciate most is his freedom in the pulpit.  That freedom produces a back and forth between hearer and listener that is, of course, much harder to achieve when one is tied to every word of a manuscript.  In the sermon God's Word is mediated through Andrew's personality in a way that connects that divine Word with people in the pew with relative ease.  Or so it seems.

The message begins with a jab at our all-too-often pathetic response to missionary letters—and then proceeds to commend the greatest missionary support letter ever written to stir us up!  And at least this sinner-turned-saint found his heart significantly stirred and corrected.  Yet again, under the ministry of that Word above all earthly powers!

(Concerning this jab: my wife and I recounted it back at home over a meal and found ourselves enjoying great big belly laughs—the kind that leave you on the floor.  Priceless satire.  And powerful.)

The Most Necessary Part of Our Wisdom

Yesterday I said another word from Owen was forthcoming.  And I said it would address the charge that maintaining the soul in a frame a "self-abasement, condemnation, and abhorrency" (Owen's wording) does not tend toward morbid introspection.  Well, here is Owen's take on this issue:

To keep our souls in a constant frame of mourning and self-abasement is the most necessary part of our wisdom with reference unto all the ends of the life of God; and it is so far from having any inconsistency with those consolations and joys which the gospel tenders unto us in believing, as that it is the only way to let them into the soul in a due manner.  It is such mourners, and those alone, unto whom evangelical comforts are administered (Isa. 57:18).

Can anyone tell me that their deepest Christian experience in walking with God does not bear this out?  I cannot for the life of me see how this is out of step with Scripture and the Spirit.  It certainly fits my own experience walking with God.  Like hand in glove.

"Blessed/Happy are the poor in spirit. . . . Blessed/Happy are those who mourn. . . ." (Mt. 5:3-4).  And blessed are those who are "sorrowful, yet always rejoicing" (2 Cor. 6:10).

How's Your Posture?

Among the stances and strategies the disciple must take against sin in the soul is this posture described by John Owen in a little work called On the Dominion of Sin and Grace (Works, vol. 7, 532):

No frame of mind is a better antidote against the poisin of sin. . . . God hath a continual regard unto mourners, those that are of a 'broken heart and a contrite spirit.' It is the soil where all grace will thrive and flourish. A constant due sense of sin as sin, of our interest therein by nature and in the course of our lives, with a continual afflictive rememberance of some such instances of it as have had peculiar aggravations, issuing in a gracious self-abasement, is the soul's best posture in watching against all the deceits and incursions of sin. And this is a duty which we ought with all diligence to attend unto.

Does this sound like morbid introspection to you?  Well, in a tomorrow's post I'll give Owen's take on the charge that this produces morbid introspection.

Nonsense Up With Which We Shall Not Put

What follows was swiped from a recent post by Doug Wilson giving writing counsel:

In the 18th century, during the ascendancy of the English dictionary makers and grammarians, it was foolishly thought that Latin was superior to English, and that things that couldn't be done in Latin, like ending sentences with prepositions, shouldn't be done in English. This is where we get the absurd rule that one must never, ever end a sentence with a preposition. As Winston Churchill put it, "that's the sort of nonsense up with which we shall not put."

Ahh, grammar and godliness.  Music to my ears, honey to my tongue, refreshment to my bones.

The High Hope of Heaven

Speaking of the high hope of heaven in Puritan spirituality, J. I. Packer speaks thus: 

Sustained by such a hope, the believer can and should face the last enemy squarely and get ready to take death in stride when it comes; and such preparation of heart and mind for passage out of this world into the immediate presence of God was, in fact, a major theme of all Puritan spirituality (A Quest for Godliness, 212).

Having been saved in hope (Rom. 8:24), and having a hope laid up for us in heaven (Col. 1:5), we should be fully prepared by the Word and Spirit to depart into the bosom of God, right?  But are we?  We, I mean, Americans, who are all too often all too cozy here. 

O God in heaven, God of all hope, cause us to know the hope to which we have been called, its everlastingness, its solidity, its certainty!  That you might be glorified in our deaths!  Help us to live and die well!  Yes, indeed, O Father, for your great name's sake!

The Spirit of Ardor and Order

A compact statement of the Spirit's ministry in 1 Corinthians 13 and 14 put in a memorable way by David Garland is this: "The Spirit of Ardor is the Spirit of Order" (Vanhoozer, Treier, Wright, eds.; The Theological Interpretation of the New Testament, 105).

The Portion of the Ransomed of the LORD

Isaiah 35 contains many images and themes that are developed more fully in chapters 40-55.  By one reckoning, even about ninety percent of the words in Isaiah 35 recur in chapters 40-55.  So already in Isaiah 35 we're looking ahead to the salvation and restoration that breaks forth in Isaiah 40.  And one little word at the end of chapter 35 fells and dispels all enemies of sin and sadness, driving away clouds of gloom and despair:

"And the ransomed of the LORD shall return
and come to Zion with singing;
everylasting joy shall be upon their heads;
they shall obtain gladness and joy,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away."

So "break forth into singing and cry aloud," O redeemed of the LORD!

No Greater Incentive for Holiness

In On Mortificaton of Sin, in a section on considering the evil of sin, John Owen urges the believer to consider how sin "grieves the holy and blessed Spirit":

Now, if there be any thing of gracious ingenuity left in the soul, if it be not utterly hardened by the deceitfulness of sin, this consideration will affect it.  Consider who and what thou art; who the Spirit is that is grieved, what he hath done for thee; and be ashamed.  Among those who walk with God, there is no greater motive and incentive unto universal holiness, and the preserving of their hearts and spirits in all purity and cleanness, than this, that the blessed Spirit, who hath undertaken to dwell in them as temples of God, and to preserve them meet for him who so dwells in them, is continually considering what they give entertainment in their hearts unto, and rejoiceth when his temple is kept undefiled.

"How shall we who died to sin still live in it?" (Rom. 6:2).  "Grieve not the Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption" (Eph. 4:30).

On Mortification for Teenagers!

Recently I've posted a number of times from John Owen's justly famous work On the Mortification of Sin.  I'll be lecturing on Owen this coming Sunday to adults, and this work will factor in significantly for my subject matter.  It is interesting to note that the little treatise on mortification of sin was originally a sermon series to college students—to teenagers (!)—while Owen was dean of Christ Church and vice-chancellor of Oxford University.  Having recently read this work with my wife, it boggles the mind to think that this was matter for the nourishment of teenagers, yet today Owen's material is regarded as far too heavy even for adults!