A Refreshing in the Crisp Air of Lofty Doctrine and the Passion of God's Servants

This week I spent three days in fellowship with close to 1300 pastors at the Bethlehem Baptist Pastor's Conference in Minneapolis, MN. On the opening night my heart was ruptured with joy as men began to sing together - the songs were of substantial theological reflection and were sung with such passion and conviction I was overwhelmed by the presence of God in the place. The few days were mind stretching (with the conference theme being “This is My Beloved Son”: Exulting in the Trinitarian Relationships of Jesus Christ - one can see why), heart refreshing, and vision imparting to the soul. I was taken by the amount of energy among men of similar calling, similar conviction and the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. I also was thankful to spend some time with a new friend and co-laborer from the church where I now serve. Soli Deo Gloria - may the men who were at the conference be protected, encouraged with their Kingdom influence being both broad and deep. Out...

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The Speech of the Heavens

Psalm 19:1-6 In our world there are many kinds of "speech" - we have the multitude of languages uttered by the tongues of men. We see silent expressions through art and artifacts strewn throughout history ancient and modern. We see our own contemporary scene full of speech- spoken, seen, and read.

Our world is a world of messages and they are being transmitted everywhere. Psalm 19 contains a testimony to a certain mode of divine speech - messages broadcast daily, syndicated through the heavens and the created order, written in true space, not cyberspace.

God is speaking to those who have eyes to see and ears to hear - in the skies above, the universe about us, the speech of God is not hidden and it is revealing true knowledge. Human beings in our very hardened rebellious state of enmity with God suppress this language and pretend we cannot understand its words. But it is clear, crystal, thundering speech, day after constant day pouring forth in God's world. The young child gazing at the stars with a parent, the high school student studying the galaxies and wonders of the far reaches of space, the scientist dreaming of far off world beyond the reaches of our technological instruments - are they looking and hearing? Or just looking? Perhaps another voice is needed as a guide to this voice - but the speech continues to come, and to come and to come. Without need of universal translation software algorithms, this speech is heard by all in whom the image of God takes residence. Suppress the speech or respond to hear more from the author? Such is the dilemma of humanity - will she run to or from her creator.

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.

When you look at majestic mountains, powerful rivers, towering glories in the heavens above - remember to listen, and to worship not that which you see, but the unseen hands that wrought all things. As we listen, we know there is more to be heard, another word that comes to us...such is the message in the rest of this Psalm...

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The Refuge of a Great Shadow

Psalm 17 - The Refuge of a Great Shadow In this Psalm David is crying out ot God in the midst of trouble - surrounded by enemies. The Psalm is segmented out first in a Plea for God's help. David pleads his case based on his righteous life - he was not a deceitful man. He had been tested by God and proven true in his way. He was not perfect in his soul - a sinless man - but rather in this circumstance in his life he had walked well in the midst of those who pursued his llife. Next we see David's petition for god to hear his words. As with many of the Psalms, here we see the expressed need for a person to be heard by God. Being cognizant of God's hearing is a great reassurement to God's people. David then asks God to Wondrously show (Heb. palah - also used in Psalm 139:14 - in stating that we are fearfully wonderfully made as human beings) his steadfast love to those who seek refuge with Him. David's continued request for refuge from his enemies (described in 10-11 as pitiless, arrogant, a lion eager to tear, lurking in ambush) continues using a couple of idiomatic phrases:

• Keep me as the Apple of your eye - a very sensitive part of the eye - apple, center, or pupil - needs to be protected
• Hide me in the Shadow of your wings - a phrase indicating intimate care and protection.

David calls upon the Lord to confront this enemy. It is interesting that David's description of his enemies describes them as holding a different value system than his own. David's portion is with the Lord - his good, his value is found in God. In contrast, his enemies portion is of the world - in this life alone...they value only the treasures of this life. They are worldlly in their outlook. David closes the contrast by saying he values - the face of the Lord, beholding it in righteousness - when he awakes (this seems to point to a ressurected future - awake from death) he will be satisfied with God.

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I Have No Good Apart From You...

Psalm 16 begins with such a resounding statement...Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord, "You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you." Quite clearly, God, our creator, is the source of all goodness - the moral law flows from his character and it is shared in our own being at some degree. We delight in what is good because it is derivative from Him that is good. To deny God, to flee from the perfections of the holy one, to desire that which is less than Him, is to turn aside to false gods. Verse 4 says that those who run after another god, shall multiply their sorrows...such is the life of those who run after the gods of this world. Finding our joy, our hope, in things, in religions, in achievements only leave the soul barren - stricken with its own sorrows and the incomplete nature of being separated from God. Verse 5 offers quite another way.

The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup, you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places, indeed I have a beautiful inheritance.

That inheritance is seen clearly in Ephesians 1:11-14

11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

This inheritance, the kingdom of God and all its blessings, first and foremost the clearest relational reality of Him who is our good, shall be the possession of all those who respond in faith to the crucified and risen Son of God. Such is indeed a mystery, the people called to Christ, from Jew and Gentile, from every tribe, tongue and language - He shall be their portion and inheritance forever in the Kingdom where there is no disgrace of human sin. Verses 7-11 - It is God who gives instruction and counsel to his people, as we set him before us at all times. Walking, living, and loving in as constant a communion with him that we can, this is the place of his presence, a place of stability, firmness, a place which is not shaken. It is in this, the presence of God at our sides, that we receive a deep gladness of heart - the psalmist declare - my whole being rejoices! Oh, to have such gladness for my own life - some days the raptures of joy are there, but other days it ever dry and weary. The life in His presence is unending as God does not abandon the soul, he makes known to us the path of life, in his presence their is fullness of joy - at his right hand there are pleasures forevermore. Such should be the song of the children of God - to find their deepest and abiding pleasure in God himself and to enjoy and love all others, and other things only for his sake. Quick Note on Verse 10 - This is quoted by Paul in Acts 13:35 - referencing this to Jesus - that this Psalm predicts and points to the resurrection of Christ himself. Thus this Psalm serves as a great reminder of his resurrection and of our own - coming in the glorious inheritance we await. Out...

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The Foolishness of the Fool

Psalm 14 The Fool (a morally deficient term) says in his heart There is no God. Atheism is an irrational denial of that which we know to be true. Truly, there is a God:

Truly there is a God, although the fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. AND so, Lord, do thou, who dost give understanding to faith, give me, so far as thou knowest it to be profitable, to understand that thou art as we believe; and that thou art that which we believe. And indeed, we believe that thou art a being than which nothing greater can be conceived. Or is there no such nature, since the fool hath said in his heart, there is no God?

St. Anselm of Cantebury

Indeed, Romans 1:18-20 tell us that all people truly, in some way, know there is a God, even amidst a denial or suppression of that truth. To deny what one knows - is in fact the work of fools. The attending result in verse 1 is that they are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good. God looks down on humanity to see if any understands and seeks God - and as Romans 3 echos, there is none who does good, not even one. Human beings in turn will do great evil to one another, and will not call upon the Lord who could help then. But God is with the generation of the righteous - those who are his people - he is to bring salvation and restitution, and this brings great terror and certain to the minds of those who flee from God. This salvation will come out of Zion - when God restores the fortunes of his people - this, is a reason for rejoicing and gladness for the people of God.

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How Long O Lord?

Psalm 13 The appropraite response of a believer, who knows the justice and righteousness of God will be made known and prevail will call out to him "How Long, O Lord..." How long shall we be in this situation, how long will we grievein sorrow, how long shall enemies be over the world? Even in such times when the heavens seem silent, times as the Puritan's would call "God's dessertions" - even in such times, the Psalmist's example is to trust...Trust in God's character (steadfast love, sing in his salvation) He will sing to His Lord - because he has dealt bountifully with me. How then does one sing in the bounties of the Lord - even in the midst of sorrow and feelings of longing before God? The Blessings of the glorious one extend to the soul are beyond this world - they are spiritual blessings in the Heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3) extended by grace to God's children in this world - yes, even in the midst of sorrow.

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Psalm 12 - Different Words

Psalm 12 In this present age there is a a contrast in Words

The world and its words

• Uttering lies to his neighbor
• Flattering lips and a double heart - they speak
• The tongue makes great boasts
• Rhetoric is seen as the triumphant tool - With our tongue we will prevail

God and his Word

• Pure Words (no falsehood or pretense - life giving...His Word is kept - we can trust them.

God indeed responds to those who are poor and plundered. He hears the cries of the oppressed. The Psalm ends with a great promise...You, O Lord, will keep them, you will guard this generation forever. Even in the midst of a troubled world, full of wickedness, vileness, and sin - God will bring his people safely home - even through death.

Out...

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Psalm 11 - The View of the Righteous in a World of Trouble

The Psalmist will not yield to the admonition to flee...even in the face of real threats:

1. The danger of attacks by those who are evil...
2. The destruction of the foundations - the very principles upon which a peaceable society can exist.

The reason he will not be shaken is given in verse 4-7 - God is still on the throne - even in the midst of troubles and undoing chaos in society - God is still God. The righteous will be tested - but his relationship with God is a different species than the relationship of God with the wicked. Perhaps one of the stronger statements in the Bible - his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence. Let him rain coals on the wicked and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup. Such statements at first glance unsettle the soul - Could God, the God who is Love, hate anyone? But at second glance would we ever prefer God to love that which is evil? Would we delight in a God who loved violence, destruction, and the heinous crimes of men? It seems that a God who is both loving and just is the delight of the soul - the forgiven soul who has taken refuge in Christ. The Psalm ends with a reaffirmation to the righteous - possibly the righteous who suffer in pain - the Lord's character has not shifted, indeed he is rigtheous, he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.

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Psalm 10 - Oh Lord, Why?

Psalm 10 Psalm 10 displays the questions that arise in the face of injustice and human evil in the world. The Psalmist comes before God with the question "Why?" It is not a rebellious "Why" it is not a "Why" spoken in anger or defiance of the reality of God's character. This "Why" is spoken in the face of brazen, arrogant, oppressive sin...where people live as if there is no God and do not fear his judgement or his severity. Verses 1-11 carry this theme and culminate in the height of arrogance from the oppressor. Verse 11 - He says in his heart, "God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it" Such a person is denying the omniscience and omnipresence of God - that he indeed knows, and is present in the midst of our actions - yes, even our terrible thoughts and deeds. The Psalmist proceeds with a strong plea to God for judgement in verses 12-15 - God's attributes of knowing and being presence are reaffirmed in verse 14 "But you do see" - God indeed is the helper of the helpless and the fatherless. The Psalm ends with some reminders:

• That God is King - His Sovereign Lordship
• That he hears the afflicted and He will strengthen their hearts - such an encouragement for the downtroden and the faint of heart - God will strenthen, encourage and lift up all who are weary.
• God will do justice to the most vulnerable - the fatherless and the oppressed.
• God's final judgement of man is echoed - "do justice...so that the man who is of the earth may strike terror no more"

Such a day is coming...Jesus, will judge the living and the dead at his appearing...until then our cries are heard, and our cries in the midst of this sin soaked world will indeed well up from our souls - Oh God, how long! Finally, the watching eyes of Heaven see every oppressive and wicked dead of women and men, including our own...Such is the revelation in Psalm 10, and there is grace for every person snared by their own sin.

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Psalm 9:17-20

Psalm 9:17-20 It is common for people to forget God - to act as if he does not exist, even while believing he does. It is easy to see the poor, the destitute, the oppressed and think that God has forsaken them...the cry to God is that he would be known, that he would show his righteous judgments, that people, the nations, would know and acknowledge that they are mere men - humbled before a great creator....this questioning continues in Psalm 10...

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Continuing in the Psalms

Psalm 7 God is the refuge of the believer - his place of safety and dwelling is in God himself. In verses 6 - 11 God is displayed as the righteous Judge of all people - it is God who "Tests the minds and hearts" of people. God is indignant towards sin. This is easy to say without the pronoun "my" - but to say "God who feels indignation every day" towards my sin. This is reason to rejoice in the saving Grace of Christ - without whom we face a righteous judge for all of our sins. Sese Grudem on the Righteousness of God The Psalm closes with a reminder in verse 12 - If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow. See Jesus' call for repentence in Luke 13:1-5 Psalm 8 This is a great Psalm of worship of which many a song has been written. O Lord, our Lord how majestic is you name - God's glory is far above all things. The psalmist looks at the heavens, the work of the hand of God and he feels the immensity of God's works and the smallness of his own life. What is man that you even care about him? This tiny creature, on a speck of dirt called earth, flying through a vast and glorious universe. What indeed is humanity that God would care so much for him? A little lower than the angels and crowned with Honor - man has been placed as the steward of creation - the image bearer of God himself. A proper view of nature and its wonders - and the place of human beings in the created world - should provoke worship...the psalm ends as it begins - Oh Lord how majestic is your name in all the earth. Psalm 9:1-2 When we think of all that God has done - his creation, his plan of redemption unfolding throughout the ages, his inclusion of us in his church - his called out people - the only appropriate response is seen in verse 1 - I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart. Verse 2 continues this heart and mindset - I will be glad and exult in you...singing praise to the name of the Most High. To exult we do not use such language today - what does this mean? To exult means to rejoice, be joyful, to celebrate in great triumph. The Triumph of God in all things - his glorious nature and works should cause in our hearts exaltation.

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The Anatomy of Another Sort of Great Week

Well, a few weeks back, well - I had a great week. Things were peachy and smooth. Stuff was just on point - things fell in place - God blessed our ministry and family relationships in a powerful way. This week is great, but not because it was GREAT! It was part of the struggle of life in a sin sick fallen world, but life to be thankful for nonetheless. First, my 1 year old got sick - always hard to see little one's in pain. Next, the stomach monster went from Ky to Momma. When Mom is sick - life gets chaotic. All the brothers out there who are Dads can say "Amen" with me at this time. I also learned about myself during this "down time" - I had planned to finish 5 seminary papers doing Biblical theologies on NT books/themes. The papers due date had been extended from late Nov, until the end of Dec. They were due before 2005. The sickness was going to require my papers to be late - and affect my grade perhaps. For some reason this frustrated me privately. I knew the right thing to do was to be with my kids and love them while Mom was out of commission. I knew this to be right, I felt it to be right - it just was right. And I felt great purpose in caring for my family. But for some reason, in a separate part of the soul, I just was disappointed about my papers laying around late. Sometimes I just care about silly stuff, getting all As, knocking every ball out of the park. But this was a great week because God broke through into my stupidity. I just was able to not care if the papers were late or not - it just ceased to bother me. And when it became time to write the last one. It came out with great fluidity. A grace was on the process so that it finished much quicker than I anticipated. There is great sorrow in this world, and we have but very small problems. I am thankful that this week was hard...another sort of week that in some provendential economy is good for us as well. Out...

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Psalm 5 People are longing

Psalm 5 People are longing to know that God hears them...that the high King to whom we pray is attending our cries. The Psalmist expresses this ache here. He acknowledges that God is not one who delights in evil, that sin and wickedness do not live with God - these must be separated from a holy God. The way to come to God is not prideful or arrogant - the Lord "hates" evil - doers. Such language is too strong for our ears today - we shiver at the thought that God hates anyone or anything. The one who speaks lies will be destroyed?!?!! as God abhors those who are bloodthirsty (murderers perhaps) and deceitful. The rest of the psalm is a contrast: BUT I will - enter through your steadfast love - it is only by Grace that we enter into the Holy One's throne room (see Hebrews 4). God's lead in our lives is the key to righteous living - we are dependent. Verse 11 - All who take refuge in God will rejoice and sing for joy. God is the source of our joy and pleasure in life - we must find our hearts in him. Psalm 6 Psalm 6 is a cry to the Lord for deliverance amidst strife and difficulty...He is crying out to God for grace - that he would find deliverance in God, from God's love for him. Deep heartfelt anguish from living in a world with sin, death, enemies, workers of evil - this great need of humanity - for refuge and salvation in a sin sick world is the heart of this Psalm. And my own heart on so many days...but oh for the Love of God in Christ - who shows us a new horizon, yet to be fully revealed in the Sons of God...Come Lord Jesus.

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Significant Psalms...

I may drop some stuff in here from time to time as I am reading the through the Psalms...I'll link em up so you can read along... Introduction to the Psalms The book of Psalms is filled with the songs and prayers offered to God by the nation of Israel. Their expressions of praise, faith, sorrow, and frustration cover the range of human emotions. Some of the Psalms dwell on the treasure of wisdom and God’s Word. Others betray the troubled heart of a mourner. Still others explode with praise to God and invite others to join in song. This diversity is unified by one element: they are centered upon the one and only living God. This Creator God is King of all the earth and a refuge to all who trust in him. Many of the Psalms are attributed to King David. The Psalms were written beginning in the fifteenth century B.C. and were probably collected in their final form in the third century b.c. Introduction from The Holy Bible : English Standard Version., Ps. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001. Psalm 1:1-4 The foundation of a man is his delight in the law of the Lord. Delight for God which means delight in the the Word of God is the only proper foundation for the soul. Here there is water, life, fruit... Psalm 2:1-12 The Son is the sovereign ruler - whom we bow to. We kiss him as our holy king. All kings, political and earthy, idolatrous and spiritual, shall be in subjection to God's holy one. The King of Kings shall reign from Zion will judge this world and its rebellious rulers. The imagery is very similar to that of the coming King (Jesus) in Revelation 17:14 Psalm 3:3-6 The great protection and sustaining work of God in his people. He is a SHIELD - who protects. He is our glory - the most glorious and valuable one. He is the LIFTER of our heads - he gives encouragement and restores dignity to a person. Psalm 4:6-7 The Lord is better, much better than feasting and drinking. His joy in our hearts is better than the greatest party.

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Meet The Fockers - Met with Disappointment

Tonight I went with some friends to see what is certain to be a popular holiday movie. Meet The Fockers, the sequel to the film Meet the Parents opened tonight in theatres across America. I am embarrassed to have sat through this film. I am not one who believes we ought to run from culture, live in ignorance of the world around, cloister away in a mass of cultural isolation, but this film I found to be too much. That which is good was twisted and contorted in ways that were just wrong. Toddlers were sexualized, marriage treated in a fashion that demeans its sanctity, religion trivialized and one of the central characters of the film comes to a "salvation experience" by the end of the movie. Who is the saving deity that rescues? It was Eros, Aphrodite, Venus...the supreme god of our age - the god of sex. It was a bizarre experience for the soul to go from deep laughter at that which is truly funny, to sickened feelings of disdain the very next moment. I sat and heard the laughter of the crowd -amused at things which should make us weep. And I was part of this number. Maybe I am too serious, but I feel I failed tonight - I did not have the courage to leave a crowded theater when so much that is good was being trampled underneath.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Phillipians 4:8

I wasn't even close on this one... Out

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Holiday Reading

My Reading List for the Holidays:

• Finish or keep plugging through Marsden's Jonathan Edwards - A Life
• Read Amy Carmichael of Dohnavur By Frank L. Houghton in preparation for our "Inverted Souls in Church History" series at our spring Inversion Gathering. I am going to do a biographical sketch of a person each semester - the first being Amy Carmichael
• Welcoming but Not Affirming: An Evangelical Response to Homosexuality by Stanley Grenz - in preparation for a discussing of loving and engaging with the homosexual community.
• And if God grace me with bonus time - I would love to get to Total Truth: Liberating Christianity from Its Cultural Captivity by Nancy R. Pearcey. We'll see...

Should be a great holiday season!

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The Intellectual Virtues of Courage and Honesty - Antony Flew

I have been following the interactions in the philosophical community about the imminet atheist thinker Antony Flew. Recently the British analytic philosopher has undergone a sort of conversion - one from atheism to theism. His new view is one he describes as akin to that of Aristotle (belief in a first cause, unmoved move, designer of the universe) or perhaps the deism of American founding Father Thomas Jefferson. A God who is not a god of a revelatory religion (ie Christianity or Islam) but a god who is quite uninvolved with the world after creation. In is interesting to see the discussions taking place on the internet. I will mention the two following web sites are interesting because they take place in both corners, both camps so to speak involved with this philosopher.

1. First, the camp flew is leaving, that of atheism, is responding in a "don't get to worried" - Flew is old and perhaps not looked at all the relevant data...perhaps we can keep him in the fold. An article on the Internet Infidel's web site seems to be aimed at calming the nerves of the "faithful" (or faithless in this case) about one of their top thinker's departure from unbelief. Very interesting read sociologically.
2. Second, there is a very revealing interview between Christian philosopher Gary Habermas, who has maintained acquaintance with Flew for many years. The interview is very cordial and the collegiality of the exchange is very compelling. In the debate I witnessed two men who seem very committed to the intellectual virtues of courage (following truth where it leads - not matter who is jeering) and honesty (being internally honest as to where the truth leads).

Although it is certain that Flew is no Christian - it is an encouragement to see this recent development in his life. Makes one want to pray for open eyes for a man who once stood in much firmer in his rebellion to the beautiful, the true, the good, the holy - the only wise God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

It was also very good to see (in the Habermas interview) a western, European, secular, intellectual clearly understand the nature of Islam as an imperialistic, state building, theonomic religion which in my estimation must be refuted with both the sound truth and acts of compassion. And regrettably to all, defensive and forceful action.

Back to a biography of Jonathan Edwards that will probably take me a year to read.

Out...

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Coherence in our Doctrine of God

I just finished a Systematic Theology class which had much discussion about the doctrine of God. Much debate surfaced as to whether God’s immutability (his unchanging nature) implied his impassibility (that God is not affected in his emotions by influences outside of his being). The following by JI Packer should be helpful in our definitions:   Third, God’s feelings are not beyond his control, as ours often are. Theologians express this by saying that God is impassable. They mean not that he is impassive and unfeeling but that what he feels, like what he does, is a matter of his own deliberate, voluntary choice and is included in the unity of his infinite being. God is never our victim in the sense that we make him suffer where he had not first chosen to suffer. Scriptures expressing the reality of God’s emotions (joy, sorrow, anger, delight, love, hate, etc.) abound, however, and it is a great mistake to forget that God feelsthough in a way of necessity that transcends a finite being’s experience of emotion.

Packer, J. I. Concise Theology : A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs. Wheaton, Ill.: Tyndale House, 1995, c1993. (emphasis added)

I have been wrestling with things since the close of the class and have some questions about the passibility of God in relations to several other attributes of our Lord (namely immutability, eternity, and simplicity)

Issue One - Immutability and Emotions

What does it mean for God to experience emotions? I have been wrestling with how would define emotions, we could start with Scripture and hear words like anger, wrath, joy, happy, grief etc. this is a good starting place. But somehow, in my human constitution I am supposed to understand what these concepts mean. In my experience (as one in the imago dei) I understand quite quickly in my humanity, what is meant by emotions. Now, what are these in me?

• Understanding I - Emotions are simply movements of brain matter/chemistry responding to complex changes in the environment, be it from personal or non-personal things. I don’t think we want to go here although Murphy perhaps would.
• Understanding II - Emotions are states of feeling in the soul that change over time as we interact with truth, God, physical objects, circumstances, events, persons, and other spiritual beings which have a corresponding result in the biochemical state of our brains and other parts of our bodies. In this understanding (as well in Understanding I) emotions would be “finite states” of being. Now I mean finite in the sense of - temporary One’s emotional state can go from “happy” to “Sad” and perhaps be a mixture of many finite states and simultaneous senses of emotion…I have especially seen this at various stages of my wife’s pregnancies…

Perhaps more work needs to be done on a theology of emotions when we talk of God’s emotions. I cannot see that any understanding I have of human emotions could apply to an immutable God. In denying impassibility I must assume that circumstances and things (beings) outside of God, must cause Him to move from one emotional state to another, increasing or decreasing in pleasure, anger and the like. It predicates something to God which he currently is not, for instance we bring or add joy to God. I am in no way wanting to deny that God “feels” or has emotions, such would be impossible with the Scriptures before us. I am concerned in saying that God’s emotions change, in the sense the travel from one state to a different state for it seems such dynamism certainly implies change (at least by the only definition I have for dynamic) I do think it possible to hold to immutability and impassibility in describing the phenomena of God’s anger, joy, etc. I will attempt to do so in conclusion

Issue Two - Eternity and Emotions

If God is to traverse emotional states, if he is to become angry, in the sense that at (tb=0 secs) he is not angry and then at (ta=1 sec) he is now angry, it seems that this must happen to God in time for there is a before and after experience which God has. Now, there are those today who are arguing for “God in time” after creation (see God, Time, and Eternity by William Lane Craig…ironic that Grudem uses another of Craig’s earlier works in his chapter arguing for God’s timelessness)…it seems that if one goes for passibility he ought also to go for God in Time.

Issue Three - Simplicity (or Unity of Simplicity) and Emotions

Grudem writes “When Scripture speaks about God’s attributes it never singles out one attribute of God as more important than all the rest. There is an assumption that every attribute is completely true of God and is true of all of God’s character. For example, John can say ‘God is light’ (1 John 1:5) and then a little later also that ‘God is love’ (1 John 4:8). There is no suggestion that part of God is light and part of God is love, or that God is partly light and partly love. Nor would we think that God is more light than love or more love than light. Rather it is God himself who is light, and it is God himself who is love.(Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, 178, emphasis in original) My question is this Is “Joy” “Happiness” or “Gladness” properly predicated of God? With the above definition, if we do predicate this to God, that he is a “joyful” being, we then must say that God himself is joyful. Then by inference from God being infinite and perfect, we must say that God is infinitely and perfectly joyful, he is not lacking in joy, as it is a perfection. The same would be said of “Wrath” and indeed Grudem (and others) would argue that God is wrathful (necessisarily, this brings up a question for me about what Wrath means in God prior to creation, but that is another theological riddle for us to chew, perhaps Wrath is a hiding of God’s pleasure…but it seems much purer and active than simply a concealing, unless God’s pleasure concealed is so devastating to the soul…anyway, I need to think/read further on this riddle). So, if joy is a perfection I do not think I can enhance, or add to, or bring to God that which he already has in infinite perfection…And therefore I would have to say simplicity and changing emotions (passibility) in God bring up an incoherence that is left unsolved.

What then of God’s emotions? Shall Anselm die too soon?

Perhaps we can maintain a view of God who does not change in finite emotional states (impassable) but does possess emotions like joy, wrath, anger, sadness, happiness et al. Perhaps God IS joyful (simplicity) and is infinitely so. When I as a human being, worship and praise and submit and obey and do the works of God, the “face” of God’s joy is clearly turned to me, I experience his pleasure and joy and I know that he is pleased with me. Likewise when I all too often sin and forsake the foundation of life, the “Face” of God’s “Wrath” is revealed to me or brought to bear on my soul and I experience the displeasure and wrath of God…which then in God’s kindness I am brought to repentance. Also, when God desires to show compassion to his hurting creatures, he shows us the grief of his being at the presence of sin and brokenness.

This view has the promise to do several things:

1. It places the Biblical truth of God’s emotions in an expression of God’s volition or his will in other words, when God becomes angry with his people, he reveals to us the face and nature of his wrath. And likewise in his just wisdom, when we live rightly, he chooses to show us his pleasure and joy.
2. It seems to give us a rich theology of human emotions that is intrinsically tied to the character of God…while explaining the finite states and changes in human emotions. We do not experience all of God’s emotions at once but we experience things after God so to speak, in us that is. We rightly experience guilt in our sin as the face of God’s pleasure is withheld from us and we experience shame.
3. There is also much to be said about the emotions of Jesus, for he does possess human emotions and will for all eternity future. The question of the “eternality” of the Incarnation arise somewhere in here. Perhaps human emotions (that change) can be located in the pre-incarnate eternally incarnate logos (that sounds pretty bad though, doesn’t it) but again, I am out of my league here and should remain silent.

Anyway, it helps me to write down things as I think about them. Apologies if my thoughts do not contain the rigor which they ought. Perhaps I like Edwards and Piper too much on the infinite joy of God.

Out

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The Anatomy of a Great Week

Some weeks in my life have been very hard - the weeks in which my wife and I miscarried were hard - and each one, and we went through five, was harder than the previous one. I have had excruciating weeks in my life - where hope, though still burning in our hearts as embers, did not have the grand flames that other weeks have had. This week however, November 28 - December 2004, was a great week! In such weeks - in which I not only see and savor Jesus Christ with great clarity and affections - but also see my life involved in things of eternal signifcance - I just get overwhelmed with gratitude to God. This week, in a kind providence, God graced my life with the following:

• Systematic Theology - I have to admit, that I love theological and philosophical reflection, and this week, I finished up a class in "Prolegemena, The Doctrines of Revelation/Bible, and Theology Proper - the Doctrine of God" - do those terms not just sing! I took a final exam this week which was just a great enjoyable experience - thinking deeply and learning - that is part of a great week
• Inversion Fellowship - This week we had great meetings with our Inversion leaders as well as our bi-weekly Inversion Gathering. This week at our Gathering we discussed The Intersection of Truth and Life, specifically we talked together as a young adult community about moving Towards an Integrated Christian World and Life View - in other words, how does a view of what we believe effect how I live and understand our complex world and its contemporary issues. It was an awesome night...
• Virginia Tech won the ACC in Footbally by schlacking the Miami Hurricanes. It was a fine day to see guys I have mentored and discipled for the past several years achieve a great victory on the field. Plus, I love football and it has been a great season to be a fan.
• Fellowship Bible Church - This week I had the humble priviledge of teaching at our new church. The Lord really blessed me in my preparation and deliveray of a message from HIS word in John 8:37-59. God never ceases to humble me that he would use me for his glory in the lives of others - I am so thankful that he does not share his glory with anyone, including those who teach - yet I am also thankful that he would use me, although in a small way, to affect others for his name sake.
• My wife Kasey - I cannot believe how much of a hero my wife is in my life. She is tirelessly loving our two girls (who could be a bullet point of blessing in their own right), she is encouraging me in my calling, be a friend as we walk life together, and is a great example to others around her. I cannot get over how much of a blessing this woman is to me - she is the answer to the first "selfish" prayer I ever prayed way back in 1992. God could have given her and her alone to me - and I would have been blessed waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay beyond anything I could imagine. Thanks Kasey - I hope you read this - I love you.

Yes, it has been a GREAT week. Out

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Life lived between two poles

Today was an illustrative day of what it means to live life with the fullest joys as well as sorrows. It seems the reality of this present age is filled with days that can be hellish - days in which the hardships and difficulties of human life are ever so real. While at the same time, the glimpses of heaven, the realities of love shower through like the scattered rays of the sun - whispers of deep promises, coming - yet not yet fulfilled. Today, I kept my too little girls (Kayla and Kylene) while my wife hit the post Thanksgiving ruckus - known amongst the brave as - shopping. Rather than navigate the throngs of deal seekers, I kept the babies for the day. Oh what a day. From omelets in the morning with a three year old - running from lions, giants, and crocodiles (all in the beautiful imagination of a little girl), to holding a cooing baby - today was a blessed day. But in the middle - we had severe potty wars - as Kayla did not want to go potty with her shoes on. Thinking that we would come in from outside - go potty - and then return to fun and games was to naive for a Daddy. No, Daddy, we don't go potty with shoes on - well, after a 20 min fit, I finally learned that we should take the shoes off. I also learned that three year olds do not mean what they say amidst tears and cries of "I want my Momma." So being the big man, I shrugged of the "I don't like you" (that cut like a dagger - oh, the small hurts of lie) and waited for my little girl to calm down. Then the remorse and hugs from her were quite dear "Daddy, I do love you, I'm sorry for pitchin that fit" - the glimpse of heaven broke in again. Thankful for my heavenly Father, we puts up with each of our own messes. In His Grace today - I am thankful Out...

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