Third Hand Quote

Me...quoting CJ Mahaney...quoting Spurgeon:

They may be able to preach the gospel better, but praise God they cannot preach a better gospel!

Bou's Brief

Due to the long delays while I write/rewrite/delete/rewrite my posts, I plan to offer a short glimpse of something near the end of each week. However, unlike old blog, I do plan to relate these thoughts to preaching.
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But Times Have Changed...

Somehow, Biblical Exposition runs into a significant amount of resistance. Though opposed, a person will usually admit that the history of the church supports this mode of preaching. Often, they will even recognize that many New Testament preachers were expositing an Old Testament text. Usually, they will concede that Biblical Exposition is the only logical application to one who believes in verbal, plenary inspiration. However, most continue to resist for one reason:

Times have changed. That form just won't work anymore.

The Lord has blessed our church tremendously. We have growing believers, who are being transformed into the image of Christ. We have people who have faced incredibly difficult circumstances and have a faith that is growing. We have men (and wives) who are preparing themselves for more involved (potentially full-time) ministry. We've had the unparalleled joy of seeing sheep added to the fold!

Anyone who knows me knows this is not my doing. I regularly pray that God would simply keep me out of the way and not let me mess things up. Yet, despite all my weaknesses...despite the radical (and unplanned) changes our church has had to endure...despite the fact that people have been moving out of our community and jobs are hard to come by...despite all of these things (and more) our church has continued to grow in size and in depth...all while growing more and more dear in my heart. I simply don't know of another pastor who loves and enjoys his church body more.

I hate the effect pragmatism has had on the church. To simply encourage pastors to try Biblical Exposition because it gains numbers is not to really fix the problem. Preaching the Bible simply becomes another method, rather than the way to build a church. I had plead with another pastor to consider the merits of Biblical Exposition, with each argument failing to convince. In desperation I finally asked, "How come it works at our church?"

Without a blink, this man (who, to my knowledge has never been to my town) began to inform me about the culture surrounding my church. We're stuck about 30 years behind the rest of society, we're simplistic and overly modernistic. Therefore, my archaic ways are effective...for now. In time, these methods will quit working (as my town "progresses") and even today, the closer I'd get to metropolitan areas, the more outdated my methods would seem. (Ironically, we have several families from his neighborhood who drive past his church and make the long trip to "Mayberry"...pretty much disproving his theory.)

It's not really about the results...

I've just returned from an amazing conference. Each speaker, a pastor/elder in their local congregation strongly advocates Sequential Exposition through Scripture. Consider these names:

CJ Mahaney
Ligon Duncan
Al Mohler
Mark Dever
John Piper
John MacArthur
RC Sproul
Thabiti Anyabwile

Despite the staggering diversity in the preachers and their churches, each church is incredibly healthy. Consider Dever's (in his words, the smallest church of these preachers, by 10-fold in some cases) church. Though right in the heart of Washington DC, and yet possibly more traditional than most churches in the country, Capital Hill continues to reach people, grow, deepen walks and have a tremendous impact on young people. All the stereotypes are completely shattered.

Yet, some will continue to protest that Biblical Exposition can't work.

It's almost like some don't want it to work.

Bou's Brief

Due to the long delays while I write/rewrite/delete/rewrite my posts, I plan to offer a short glimpse of something near the end of each week. However, unlike old blog, I do plan to relate these thoughts to preaching.
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What's in a Name?

I'm ashamed to admit that American Idol has become a ritual in our home. Personally, I prefer the early weeks (when the yelping "contestants" more mirror my vocal qualities) while my wife loves the finals (again, when the contestants more mirror her vocal quality). This week featured a special edition entitled "Idol Gives Back." It was a sort of pledge drive to raise funds for various humanitarian charities. As they we closing the show, the host announced that the remaining contestants were going to sing "Shout to the Lord."

I looked up from my laptop (which is usually open while I "watch" TV, another point of regular discussion with my wife) to listen. Surely, they don't mean Shout to the Lord (by Darlene Zschech), I thought. And if they do mean that song, I wonder if they'll sing all the lyrics.

They largely kept the song in tact. They sang every word of the song but one. In the midst of the song they sang words like: My Savior, Lord there is none like You, My Comfort, My Shelter, Praise to the King, never cease to worship You. They didn't slur, exchange or hide any of these clearly religious words with very clear Biblically driven imagery.

As I mentioned, they did change one word. But even "the replacement" was rich with biblical imagery. In the "Idol Edition," they sang out My Shepherd, a non-relevant term to sing in Los Angeles unless we understand the obvious Biblical overtones. It was clearly a worship song (for the lyrics say it). It is clearly intended to be sung to someone divine. It was clearly a song intended to be sung about Jesus.

But if that's the case, why not be clear about it. In its original form, the fourth word of the song is Jesus. However, someone(s) involved with American Idol (I have no idea who makes these decisions) saw it fit to mute the message by replacing His name. Why is that? There is no other reason but for offense.

Now, I am not requesting you petition, boycott or protest anything about the show...not because I don't want to jeopardize hearing next season's William Hung, but because we should not expect non-Christians to act otherwise. I am simply asking us to consider the nature of the offense of Jesus' name. The powers-to-be of the show determined that a religious song full of religious language was not offensive, as long as Jesus' name was removed. We can even call the Chief Shepherd by His Title, as long as we resist using His Name.

This should not surprise us. For the power of Apostolic preaching is that the name of Jesus Christ can either convict and/or offend. This is why Paul would state:

For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.--1 Corinthians 2:2

Our determination should be no different than Paul's. Our preaching must name the name of Jesus. If a Jew, Muslim, Hindu, et al could sit through our sermon and apply terms (like Lord, Savior, God, etc) to fit their own system we have failed. We must eliminate their referents by clearly stating that we preach of Jesus.

We must shout the name of Jesus. The reason His Name is too offensive for American Idol is that His is the name that smashes all other idols!

to the praise of the glory of His grace!

Together for the Gospel (Updated)

I'm looking forward to seeing:

Thabiti Anyabwile
Mark Dever
Ligon Duncan
John MacArthur
CJ Mahaney
Albert Mohler
John Piper
RC Sproul

But I'd also love to see you.

If you are planning to be at "T4G", please either comment below (with some form of contact information) or email me. (Perhaps we can even get a larger group together.)

UPDATE: If you know of someone who is not going to be able to attend the conference, though they had registered, I know a brother who is willing to compensate them for their registration and attend the conference. Please contact me ASAP

DTMW4I: Alva J McClain

In this connection I would like to encourage Christians who delight in finding the Lord Jesus Christ upon every page of Scripture. Do not permit yourselves to be frightened by those overcautious souls who cry against what they call "too much typology." Doubtless there are some things which may properly be catalogued as "types" and others not. But whatever you may call it, it is the privilege and highest duty of the Christian to discover and behold the face of the Lord Jesus in Scripture--everywhere! Far better to break a few rules of classical hermeneutics than to miss the vision of His blessed face.

We need only one caution--let us be sure that what we find is always true to the historic revelation of the Son as recorded in the New Testament. With this safeguard, there is no end to what we may find in the inspired record of the infinite and incarnate Son of God. And by finding Him throughout Scripture, we shall be finding the perfect will of God in the wonderful context of His grace. For grace reigns "through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 5:21)--Law and Grace, p 67-68