HAPPY REFORMATION DAY!

                                                             Reformational Teaching

The Reformation of the Church (and therefore of society in general) began with Martin Luther nailing his Ninety-five Theses to a church door in Wittenberg on October 31, 1517. At this point in the deformation and life of the ‘Deformed’ Church the Scriptures had been relegated to a position far beneath the agenda-driven opinions of fallen men. The wheels of the Church’s wagon of redemption had become mired in the manure that had issued from the mouths of the horses that were supposed to be leading it! But after Luther put his shoulder to the wheel and John Calvin had supplied a fresh team, the ‘Good News wagon’ of God began once again to roll forward, spreading the written revelation of God and redemption throughout the nations along with its proclamation.

By 1647 there had been many good theologically ‘Reformed’ documents drawn up by gatherings of Godly men for the purpose of clearly encapsulating what the newly ‘Reformed’ Church believed the Scriptures to be teaching. To be sure these tended to be written in order to counter false theological teachings that had entered the Church through men imbibing false or clearly unscriptural musings of fallen men. Thus, from the Reformation period onward, men had in their hands once again that which the ‘Deformed’ Church had forbidden them. They had the very touchstone of reality in their hands, the written revelation of God – in their own language!

Not only did the Reformation put the Scriptures into the hands of the common people, but it also brought with it the Scripture’s own method of interpretation. No longer was a corrupt church full of corrupt leaders the authority for interpreting Scripture, but rather the Scriptures themselves became that authority: Scripture was to be used to interpret Scripture.

John Knox (1505-1572), a student of John Calvin, can be seen promoting the Reformational hermeneutic in an encounter with the Roman Catholic Mary Queen of Scots,

 

‘You interpret the Scriptures in one way,’ said the queen evasively, ‘and they in another: whom shall I believe, and who shall be judge?’ ‘You shall believe God, who plainly speaketh in His Word,’ replied the Reformer, ‘and farther than the Word teacheth you, you shall believe neither the one nor the other. The Word of God is plain in itself; if there is any obscurity in one place, the Holy Ghost, who is never contrary to Himself, explains it more clearly in other places, so that there can remain no doubt, but as to such as are obstinately ignorant.’[1]

              The Reformation restored the authority of Scripture and, with the previous invention of the printing press, it put the written Word of God into the hands of the ordinary people in their own language. The significance for the Biblical rule of Biblical interpretation should not be missed. It is summed up in the following:

 

The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself; and therefore, when there is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture, (which is not manifold, but one,) it must be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly.

The supreme Judge, by which all controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, opinions of ancient writers, doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined, and in whose sentence we are to rest, can be no other but the Holy Spirit speaking in the Scripture.[2]

              No longer was the pope or the papacy the interpreter of Scripture – for that is to set the authority of men above the authority of God speaking in Scripture – but Scripture was to be its own interpreter. It stands to reason, therefore, that in order for the reader to allow Scripture to interpret Scripture the reader must believe that the whole of Scripture is the very Word of God written. Though the house was swept clean at the time of the Reformation all too soon the demons of error began to return in the form of Higher Criticism or Religious Liberalism.

If there was a buzzword in nineteenth-century theoretical thought, it was the word evolution. The idea of evolution was applied not simply to biology, but also to other fields of inquiry. Political theory saw the application of Herbert Spencer’s ‘social Darwinianism,’ for example. It is important to realize that evolution encompasses chiefly a theory of history whereby not only biological entities undergo a progressive development from the simple to the complex, but also other entities undergo a similar sort of progressive change.

Married to evolutionary philosophy, the Religious Historical School of the nineteenth century considered it axiomatic that all religions go through evolutionary stages of development. They move from the simple to the complex. In this scheme all religions begin with primitive forms of animism and move to a more complex level of sophisticated monotheism.[3]

              Regarding the history of man, one can easily see the conflict between Reformational teaching and that of Social Darwinianism: the former is founded upon the written revelation of God while the latter is a product of Darwin’s theory. It is imperative that we are aware of our own presuppositions when considering the Bible and its contents. The treasure chest of Scripture remains securely locked to all who use a ‘Darwinian’ hermeneutic to attempt to interpret Scripture. The Reformation provided the key that unlocks the written revelation of God to man: Scripture interpreting Scripture. 

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[1] Thomas McRie, The Life of John Knox. Thomas Nelson & Sons, 1889. p. 175.

[2] Westminster Confession of Faith (1647) Chapter 2, paragraphs 9 & 10. 

[3] RC Sproul, The Last Days According to Jesus, Baker Books, 1998. pp. 17-18.

Excerpted from THE NEXUS - The True Nature of Nature: McKinlay, Neil Cullan: 9798657784633: Amazon.com: Books

HALLOWEEN OR REFORMATION DAY

                                                     Halloween or Reformation Day

Growing up in 1960s Scotland meant fun at Halloween. Every 31^st October we would carve turnips into lanterns (while eating raw their insides) and don costumes to become ‘guisers’ (or ‘galoshins’ or ‘gloshies’ as we were called). We had to entertain with a song or a poem or some such like the folk whose doors we knocked. They would respond by giving us sweeties and apples. It was a time of ‘dookin’ fur aiples’ which meant that apples floating in a tub of water were to be retrieved by using only ones teeth. No easy task for the non-amphibious! Halloween was transformed into ‘trick-or-treat’ (and turnips into pumpkins!) for our kids while living in 1980s Canada. However, there was no song or rhyme from those knocking on our door, only ghoulishly costumed children holding up anticipatory bags to receive candies! Nowadays in Australia our doorbell hardly ever rings at Halloween, but if it does, it is usually young teenagers merely wanting lollies! Clearly the most Halloween fun was to be had in 60s Scotland!

Though it has been secularised and commercialised certain aspects of Halloween as we know it may be of pagan origin. A rough thumbnail sketch of possible pagan influence: 31^st October marked the end of summer and its harvest and the beginning of the dark winter season. It was on this night, Samhainn, ghosts of the dead were supposed to visit! Bonfire ceremonies were held at which people dressed as animals and what have you. Flaming embers (jack-o-lanterns?) were carried from the sacred bonfire to relight the home hearth-fire for protection in the coming winter. Apparently spirits could be propitiated by those in costume to the point of sparing home and harvest. Samhainn came under Roman influences after its invasion of Celtica. Thus Feralia, (a day for honouring the dead) along with Pomona, a goddess of fruit and trees (represented by an apple) were incorporated into rituals. Even the Church did not escape Pagan Roman influence. She merely came up with new titles to sanctify worship of and prayers for the dead! First, those deemed by the Church to be saints were to be worshiped on ‘All Saints’ Day.’ Then on the following day the rest of the faithful departed were to be prayed for on ‘All Souls’ Day.’ Halloween or All Hallows’ Eve is, of course, the evening preceding All Saints’/All Hallows’ Day.  

Halloween nowadays has parents afraid their children might receive apples containing foreign objects such as pins and razors (as has happened)! For me personally, Halloween was changed to Reformation Day when as an adult I was saved by grace through faith in Christ and His work on the cross. Therefore this Celt, instead of bobbing for apples, rejoices that the Holy Spirit was pleased to guide His Church back to His Word. For on 31^st October, 1517 Martin Luther started the reformation of the Church (and society along with it) through the publication of his Ninety-five Theses which is said to have been nailed to a church door in Wittenberg. The Reformation spread to many nations (including Scotland) and arguably led to the greatness of the West (i.e., medical science, medicine, hospitals, technology, art, economics, commerce, political freedoms, democratic systems of government etc.) Thanks to the Reformer, John Calvin, these and such like things including music, clothing, architecture, science, and social festivities became free to be cultivated without the previous Church and State interference. Says Henry Van Til, ‘Calvin proclaimed alongside the church and state a third realm, an area of life that has a separate life and jurisdiction. It is called the sphere of the adiaphora, the things indifferent. This is the court of the conscience. No king or pope may here hold sway.’ (The Calvinistic Concept of Culture). Although church and state in their respective spheres of authority were to encourage good moral behaviour, according to Calvin the individual conscience ought to be bound by nothing other than God speaking by His Spirit with His Word. ‘Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God’1 Corinthians 10:31.  

With all of the above in mind we might say that before the fall Adam and Eve went bobbing for apples. Their Father, God, had warned them about the fruit of a particular tree. They went against His clear directions! After eating the forbidden fruit Adam and Eve felt strangely different, but they donned fig-leaf ‘Halloween’ costumes in an attempt to hide from the One who was coming to visit. Thus, they didn’t go doorknocking. Rather it was the LORD who came knocking on their door. ‘Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?’ Genesis 3:11b. The rest, as they say, is history. Adam and Eve and all their descendants (including you and me) are part of the human race which is in need of reconciliation to God. God has brought about that needed reconciliation through the birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. How is it with you? Halloween or Reformation Day?

THE SPIRIT OF NEWNESS

 

‘Until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high, and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is counted as a forest.’ Isaiah 32:15. A thirsty land. A shower of God. A forest of people.

‘My soul longs for You like a thirsty land.’ Psalm 143:6b. ‘Jesus stood and cried out saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive.’ John 7:37b-39a. Thirsty souls. Rivers of God. Spirit-filled people.

‘Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The beasts of the field will honour Me, the jackals and the ostriches, because I give waters in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My people, My chosen. This people I have formed for Myself; they shall declare My praise.’ Isaiah 43:19-21. Transformed deserts. A word from God. Transformed people.

‘Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.’ Ezekiel 36:25-27. Cleansed souls. Blessings from God. Obedient people.

‘John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and all were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins… And he preached, saying, “There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose. I indeed baptize you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”’ Mark 1:4,5,7. Penitent souls. Poured out water. Promised Spirit.

‘While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.’ Acts 10:44-48a. Souls magnifying the Lord. Promise poured out. Covenant signed and sealed.

Is your soul like a shrivelled walnut? Have you withered on the vine? Is your heart dry as dust? Is your tongue of praise sticking to the roof of your mouth? Is a guilty conscience sapping away all your strength? Then hear what Jehovah-Jesus says, ‘Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without price. Why do you spend money on what is not bread, and your wages on what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance. Incline your ear to Me, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you – the sure mercies of David.’ Isaiah 55:1-3.

A desert in bloom is a picture of a land renewed and a soul restored. ‘The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.’ Psalm 23:1-3.

As Peter says, ‘Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for a new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.’ 2 Peter 3:13. And John says, ‘Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away… Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold! I make all things new.”’ Revelation 21:1a, 5a. Not only does the Spirit renew the individual and cause deserts to bloom, He even renews the whole cosmos!

To join with all creation in its praise of the wonderful and gracious Creator bow the knee before Jesus Christ and call on Him. ‘For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” Romans 10:13. ‘Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.’ 2 Corinthians 5:17.

AMERICAN MARXISM (Review)

American Marxism (Review)

Mark Levin’s American Marxism is a must read for understanding the Left’s intended and continued demolition of Western civilization. This Aussie reviewer knows and understands all too well that if the US goes under, we all go under!

By his descriptive title Levin alerts the reader to the fact that old time Marxism has morphed itself into a modern American version. In other words, the cancer that’s Socialism has metastasized, and has spread its toxic tentacles into every vital organ of American society: schools, colleges, universities, churches, sports, comedy, social and mainstream media, medicine, politics, military et al.

American Marxism will be the death of America if she does not seek immediate treatment for her ailment.

After years of incubation, the Marxist cuckoo’s egg has finally hatched and the American taxpayer frantically has to feed the leeching imposter is it grows and grows.

Levin, with a plethora of citations, footnotes, and sources, skillfully details, and intelligently interacts with the evil intentions of the fire-breathing dragon of totalitarianism, a.k.a. American Marxism.

From Climate Change fanaticism to Critical Race Theory skullduggery to Education indoctrination to anti-Law Enforcement to Open Borders abuse to Founding Fathers’ disparagement to Declaration denigration and attacks on the Constitution and a whole lot more, Levin shines a bright light and exposes these forces of darkness.

Levin does not leave it at that but gives the reader clear instructions and supplies many suggestions as to how American patriots might at last stave off and repair the damage done by the decades of the destructive Marxist onslaught.

America’s world reputation needs to be rescued and her tattered flag repaired with all the dedication of a Betsy Ross.

Reading American Marxism will help to stir the souls of all lovers of truth, justice, and the American way. Yes, all lovers of freedom will benefit from devouring and digesting this book.

May God be pleased to grant America true repentance and a renewed belief in His Law with His Gospel, i.e., the Bible, as elaborated in and ratified by her Declaration: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

America, the West, is depending on you!        

LETTERS

                                                                            Letters

Letters are the aggregate used in making words. Words are the bricks used to build a wall of sound. Sentences are the mortar that binds it all together. A wall encloses. All the aggregate-letters, the word-bricks, and the walls of sound that enclose the Bible are to be found only in Christ Jesus. Cover to cover, Christ is the mortar that binds the Book of books all together. For, ‘In Him all things hold together’ Colossians 1:17b.

Christ is in the Bible from beginning to end. He is the A to Z of God’s written Word. In the last chapter of the Bible He says, ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega. The Beginning and the End, the First and the Last’ Revelation 22:13. He is what every letter in the Bible is all about. Indeed, all the letters of the Bible form Him. For the wall of sound proclaims Him. As the Father draws them, His sheep hear the Word, and by the Spirit enter His enclosure (John 10:4.)

The first wall of sound in the world was made by the triune God, i.e., Father, Word, Spirit. As recorded in the first chapter of the Bible, God, the Creator of the heavens, the earth, and all therein said, ‘Let there be light.’ When the Word became flesh He said, ‘I am the light of the world’ John 8:12. God’s Word illuminates. ‘In Your light we see light’ Psalm 36:9b. Letters are the light particles of the Word.

The eternal Word is the chief cornerstone which God laid when time began. ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made’ John 1:1-3. And He is the cornerstone to which the whole world and everything in it is to be aligned. ‘For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame. So the honour is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.’ 1 Peter 2:6-7.

Words without Christ are bricks without straw. To construct sentences with no thought of Christ is to build walls of sound on sinking sand, edifices that will be washed away with a mighty roar. ‘For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate”’ 1 Corinthians 1:19. This does not mean that everything we write is to be about Christ. It means simply that we ought to be aware that Christ reads everything we write. Therefore, every letter, word, and sentence we write should be written with Him in mind. For, ‘We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ’ 2 Corinthians 10:5.

What does the Word of God say about God the Word? ‘For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things.’ Romans 11:36a. After writing about the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, John concludes his Gospel with these carefully chosen words, ‘Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.’ John 21:25. Hating every word uttered by the Word that became flesh, they killed Him. But God raised every letter of the Word by bringing Jesus to life. Yes, honour Him, even with every letter of the alphabet.

THE LORD'S DAY Does it Really Still Matter? (Book Review)

 D. Rudi Schwartz’s The Lord’s Day: Does it Really Still Matter? reminds me of words I regularly hear from my car’s satnav system, “Recalibrating”. The voice instructions are clear, but I have a bad habit of taking wrong turns! “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left” Isaiah 30:21.

The Lord’s Day: Does it Really Still Matter? is written by a pastor with pastor’s heart giving a pastoral call to the Lord’s Church. Schwartz’s voice is telling us the way back to the Lord’s Day. “On the Lord’s Day, Christians approach God in Christ’s name and thank him for Christ’s redemption. Their day of worship is in itself a proclamation of God’s greatness and grace to an unbelieving world.” p. 56.

The book is an exposition of the history, beauty, and benefit the 4^th Commandment is to Christians and indeed the world. “Calvin is right: The ceremonial part of the fourth commandment is abolished. For this reason, we call the Lord’s Day the Christian Sabbath. The Sabbath of the Old Testament was the shadow, the New Testament Sabbath is the substance (Col 2:17). On the night he was betrayed, our Lord declared “This cup is the new covenant in my blood which is poured out for you.” (Lk 22:20 NIV)” p. 67.

The Lord’s Day: Does it Really Still Matter? Schwartz demonstrates that it really does matter, and that corporate Sunday worship is about rest for our souls as individuals, as families, and as the body of Christ. Read this book, ponder its message, and, if you haven’t already, return to the old (i.e., the Biblical) paths.

Reading the book reminded me of the following verse:

“Thus says the LORD:

‘Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths,

where the good way is; and walk in it,

and find rest for your souls’” Jeremiah 6:16a.

Purchase your copy at Ark house Press: The Lord's Day – Ark House (arkhousepress.com)

AUTHOR

Author

In my interactions with others I’m often asked, ‘What do you do?’ Sometimes I reply that I’m an author. ‘What have you written?’ ‘Mostly theology’ is my measured response. At times that ends the conversation. However, sometimes people are brave enough to ask, ‘Theology, what is that?” Upon this invitation I excitedly tell them that theology is about God and the things of God. In conversations such as this I try to follow the words of Peter, ‘always be ready to give a defence to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear’ 1 Peter 3:15b. Then, if their eyes don’t start to glaze over, I try to tell them about the importance of the risen Jesus Christ.

Job lived around the time of Abraham and is best known as the man who trusted God even though he had lost just about everything. But as an author? Well, he wrote the following, “Oh, that my words were written! Oh, that they were inscribed in a book! That they were engraved on a rock with an iron pen and lead, forever!’ Job 19:23-24. The perishing pulp of a paperback was not good enough for Job. No! His story was so important that he wanted it chiseled in stone with the carved-out letters filled with lead. It sounds more like a monument than a book that Job wanted to write.

What subject matter was so important to Job, the man who sat on the trash heap of life, the man whose ‘comforters’ told him that he must have gravely sinned against God because of what happened to him, the man whose wife even said to him, ‘Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!’ Job 2:9. What could Job possibly want to write about? What message did he want to last forever? Well, the thing that comforted him most as he sat there covered in painful boils amongst the collapsed rubble of his life receiving no sympathy whatsoever from humanity was the thesis for his book, ‘For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, Whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!” Job 19:23-27.

Job’s only comfort in life and death was that he belonged to his Redeemer, his Saviour. He says, ‘And though’, (as the KJV 19:26 puts it), ‘after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.’ Job believes he will be resurrected bodily at the Last Day. How so? Well, let’s just say that a person would appear to be spiritually dead if they are not moved (even to tears) when listening to Job’s words as sung in Handel’s Messiah, ‘I know that my Redeemer liveth.’ Job wanted to tell the world about his Redeemer. And he wanted his words to last forever. God granted Job’s wish, “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever’ Isaiah 40:8. But even better, his Redeemer, his Rock says, ‘See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands’ Isaiah 49:16a.

Heidelberg Catechism Question & Answer 1, ‘What is your only comfort in life and death? That I am not my own, but belong with body and soul, both in life and in death, to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with His precious blood, and has set me free from all the power of the devil. He also preserves me in such a way that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, all things must work together for my salvation. Therefore, by His Holy Spirit He also assures me of eternal life and makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to live for Him.’ 

Don’t you think that Job is a great author?