There are many dead guys, who were not perfect, who were personally flawed, but also wrote great stuff. A new site just went up about the life and works of John Owen...very interesting. Owen lived in the height of religious strife England during the tulmuluous days of reformation and struggle for freedom. An excellent timeline setting his life in context between other events in history is found on the site - very informative - See Owen Timeline Looking forward to the next instrallment of John Piper's The Swans Are Not Silent Series which will feature John Owen. Volume 4 is described as follows:

This volume will, Lord willing, contain the biographies of Athanasius, John Owen, and J. Gresham Machen. What unites these three is their tenacious defense of orthodoxy against the false teachings of their day. All three teach us to engage in theological defense and debate in ways that are life-giving rather than deadening. I believe this will be a relevant contribution to what the church needs today in its battle for doctrinal purity and loving interaction and cultural impact.
John Piper, Freshwords - March 30th 2005

To stand for truth amidst contemporary controversies and waves of teachings is always a tough task - Psalm 1 tells us that this will always be the case - there are those who will be called to delight in God amidst assembled masses of another mind. Thank God for the faithful who have walked ahead of us:

Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.

Hebrews 13:7

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