Book Review: Easy Chairs, Hard Words
Easy Chairs, Hard Words (conversations on the Liberty of God)
by Douglas Wilson,
Published by Canon Press
149 pages
$15.00
Easy Chairs, Hard Words is a book that teaches reformed theology, specifically the five points of Calvinism, and aims to reveal the fallacy of Arminianism and Pelageism. Douglas Wilson does this in an uncanny fashion as he creates conversations between a young curious seeker of truth and a Pastor. Douglas Wilson himself says, “I have put most of truths into a fictional setting merely to make them more readable, and hence more understandable.” (pg.8) The book is very readable, and adds some warmth and humor throughout it, as Douglas Wilson uses his creativity and an artistic flair to make the meetings between the young man and Pastor most interesting.
The book begins with the young man who is part of a church that believes man can lose his salvation, and he has heard a lot of rumblings within his own congregation, talking about the Calvinist Church across the street. The young man is curious about this conspicuous church because they hold to such different teachings, especially the fact that they believe you can’t lose your salvation. So the young man decides to set up a time to meet with this Pastor, and one conversation turns into numerous visits. The book reads like fiction more than non-fiction because of the conversation between the two men. This was not a dry book on theology as the added character’s conversing, tackling hard questions, and thoughtful answers, allow the reader to feel like they are in the room learning with the young man.
Douglas Wilson’s strong points are exhibited in his readability, interest factor, and understanding of the topics discussed. Also, some of the explanations Douglas Wilson shares reveals his depth of insight in the Word of God. Furthermore, the book is only 149 pages which can be a read in a span of one or two weeks. Finally, the author puts extreme emphasis on the glory of God. He argues that everything God is doing is for His glory, instead of man’s. Douglas Wilson expands the reader’s view of God while placing us in our position as creation who are here to worship God.
The only drawback to this book is that those who come from the Arminian/Peligian (freewill) camp may feel slighted. The author makes it crystal clear that “diving down into the depths of grace,” is code for embracing and growing in reformed theology. The book is written from the notion that the young man came out of the freewill perspective and embraced the whole counsel of God’s Word, especially God’s sovereignty, which is intertwined in every area of the five points of Calvinism.
I thought Easy Chairs, Hard Words was a great read. I loved how Douglas Wilson turned theology into these great dialogues between the young man and the Pastor. The questions posed to the Pastor, and the responses were well thought out, and clearly answered. The reformed believer will say “amen” to everything Douglas Wilson says, while the freewill believer will be challenged with the arguments made by the author. It is important for all of us regardless of our theology to think and be challenged where we are at in our faith with Christ. This book magnifies and expands God’s glory as we are here for nothing but His glory!
A Call To Pray
"What is both surprising and depressing is the sheer prayerlessness that characterizes so much of the Western church. It is surprising, because it is out of step with the Bible that portrays what Christian living should be; it is depressing, because it frequently coexists with abounding Christian activity that somehow seems hollow, frivolous and superficial."--D.A. Carson
Would this characterize your church? Your home? Your life? How is your prayer life today?
God's Word tells us to "pray without ceasing."--1 Thessalonians 5:17
Why Does God Need My Money?
by: Fred MundieHave you ever asked yourself that question? Or, have you ever been in a conversation with someone and they asked you to explain to them why God wants their hard-earned, hard-to-come-by, not-enough money? Or, even better, have you ever spoken with someone who said (perhaps you thought in your own mind) "God knows I love Him, and God knows I work hard, and God knows I am having a difficult time financially right now, so God is OK with me not giving to Him right now?"
The problem with all of the above is the initial premise is wrong–God does not want, nor does God need, our money. How could we be so arrogant to think the Creator of all the heavens and earth, of the entire universe, the beginning and the end, the Alpha and the Omega, would need anything from us? He does not need us or anything we have. He can squash us like a bug today, and he will not change one bit from the way he is, the way he was, and the way he will always be, in all of eternity.
God wants us to love Him. He wants us to love one another. And He wants us to obey Him. One of the areas in which he wants us to obey is money. When we pay our tithe to our local church, we are not giving money to God, the money is going to the church. The payment of the tithe is an act of obedience toward God. In Malachi 3:10, God says: "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the LORD Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it." That verse is a straight-up command from God to us to tithe. He is so adamant about the fact that we should obey Him in the area of tithing that He even says "Test me in this." This is the only place in the entire Bible where God tells us to test Him. Imagine the depth of love and the commitment he has to us to tell us to test Him. Who are we to test Him?
Our obedience to God comes from our faith in God. Faith that God knows what is best for us, faith that He knows what we are capable of, and faith that God will take care of us in all things, great and small. Our obedience to God in not only monetary areas but all areas of our life will allow us to love Him in the way He intended: completely and unconditionally, with full confidence and faith that God will provide for all of our needs.
Combating Spiritual Drift
From time to time we are all faced with circumstances, thoughts, or people, that force us to question what we believe. For some, it is a trial in life that sets a person on his heels and secretly (or openly) causes him to wonder if God really exists...and if He does, is He really a loving God? For others, it is a series of nagging thoughts or questions that just never seem to be satisfied. "Does the doctrine of election teach that God created some people who are predestined to go to Hell?" "Is Jesus really the only way to Salvation?" Still, for others, it is a person of another Faith (or no Faith at all) who knows just the right questions to stump the believer about his Bible knowledge. There are many opportunities for Satan to derail a Christian, but this is nothing new. The Bible is filled with examples of Christians who were tempted to leave the Faith. In fact, Adam and Eve's original sin has far more to do with man questioning the legitimacy of God than simple disobedience. The book of Colossians provides an encouraging example of how to combat the Spiritual drift than can take place as one is pulled away from a true knowledge of the Bible. In short, this book is a letter written by the Apostle Paul to the church at Colossae. But, this is not just any letter. It is a response to the desperate concern of the church's leader, Epaphras. Although the church at Colossae had not fallen away, heresy was sweeping the land and Epaphras feared the church would turn away from the Truth. So, he traveled a great distance to seek help from the Apostle Paul. The book of Colossians is Paul's response the the concern of Epaphras. It is, in fact, an appeal to stand firm in the Faith (Colossians 1:23).
So, what did Paul encourage the Colossians to do? Avoid sinning? Go to church more frequently? Pray more? While he does encourage all of these, the Apostle Paul does not begin by challenging the Colossians to do more. Instead, he spends a significant amount of time directing their attention to the supremacy of Christ. After all, He is the Creator, Sustainer, and everything that is exists is because of and for Him (Colossians 1:16-17)!
Are you experiencing Spiritual drift today? The Apostle Paul is clear that the remedy is Christ. Spend some time getting to the Jesus of the Bible. When you develop a proper view of Him, you will find that your questions, circumstances, and doubts suddenly become smaller as Christ becomes larger. Why not start by reading the book of Colossians? Pray that God will soften your heart and receive His Word in humility. After all, only He can maintain your Spiritual heading.
A Word from Dr. Jay Adams
I am reading a Jay Adams book, “What to do on Thursday” and enjoying it thoroughly! I love His books because Dr. Adams writes with wisdom, clarity, and practical application. His books are concise and to the point, with a Biblical accuracy that comes from truly knowing God. He is an amazing man of God, who has given his life to love God and others as a Pastor, Counselor, Theologian, Writer, and fellow Christian brother. May we continue to read and learn from such men who truly are led by the Spirit!
Here is a breakdown of a section in “What to do on Thursday,” pages 6-7, looking at a known passage of God’s Word.
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.”
--2 Timothy 3:16-17, ESV
1. Teaching
“The Scriptures teach us all that we need to know about God, man, and the creation to be able to live a life that is pleasing to God. They set the standard for faith (what we must believe) and for practice (what we must do).”
2. Reproof or Conviction
“The Spirit uses the Scriptures to convict us of our sin as, in various ways, we fail to measure up to the standards set forth in them. All change from sinful practices to those that please God must begin with conviction of sin.”
3. Correction
“The Scriptures show us how to repent and find forgiveness of sins and how to begin life afresh. They help us get out of the messes we often get ourselves into.”
4. Disciplined training in righteousness
“The Scriptures also show us how to stay out of those messes in the future, and they point us to biblical alternatives to our sinful ways. They discipline us in order to make these new ways a habitual part of our everyday living.”
Do You Worry?
“Worry is the sin of distrusting the promise and providence of God, and yet it is a sin that Christians commit perhaps more frequently than any other.” --John MacArthur
Jerry Bridges calls worry, the Christian’s “respectable sin.” That is saying it nicely considering most Christians don’t even recognize worry as a sin. We worry because we are under a delusion that we are in control of our lives, and that we can solve our own issues. The antithesis of trust in God is disbelief, which is what we are doing when we let worry control us. The appalling part of worry is that we become independent and self-sufficient, and in a sense become our own god.
Peeling away the layers of worry reveals the ugliness of a tolerated sin that needs to be repented of, like any other sin! Worry is a big deal that is often overlooked. God’s Word tells us to “trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV)
Examine Yourself
Do you trust God in the midst of the life’s struggles or do you take matters into our own hands? Are you full of worry or strong in faith? What is your first reaction to tragedy, prayer or panic? Who are you really depending on?
Is it possible to love Jesus, but hate religion?
If you're on Facebook, chances are you've seen Jefferson Bethke's video entitled, "Why I Hate Religion, but Love Jesus." This video has inspired both Christians and non-Christians, but his statements have also caused quite a bit of controversy. We sat down to formulate our thoughts regarding this video and stumbled across a great review by Kevin DeYoung on the Gospel Coalition Blog. In his review, DeYoung lovingly confronts the message communicated by Bethke and shares some hard hitting criticism. The day after his review, DeYoung posted a follow-up in which he shares Bethke's response to his criticism. While we agree with DeYoung's stance on Bethke's video, it is the loving interaction between the two that we want to highlight. This is an excellent example of what the dialogue between Christians who disagree should look like.
To see the video and read the articles, please click the following links:
The video
DeYoung's Response
The Follow-up
Read more
To see the video and read the articles, please click the following links:
The video
DeYoung's Response
The Follow-up
Obedience is the Key to Change Your Money Behavior
by: Fred Mundie, Financial Counselor
Jesus Christ tells us to obey everything He has commanded. Matthew 28:20. When Abraham obeyed God, He told Abraham ". . . through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed . . . ." Genesis 23:18. God promised many blessings to His people after he led them out of Egypt if they obeyed him, but He warned against their disobedience. Leviticus 26. God is so adamant about obedience that He commanded parents to have their disobedient son’s stoned to death. Deuteronomy 21:18. With all of these and many more passages, why do we keep ignoring His Word? If we are obedient to God, He trusts us, and like any good parent, He will give us more rope and allow us to go a little further. Jesus was very clear in Luke 16, v. 10, when He said "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much."
Obedience is a behavior–it is something we have to set our mind to do and carry it out. Larry Burkett said financial planning is 80% behavior and 20% head knowledge. I agree with Larry, and I also know from experience that with most people, their behavior is what gets them in trouble every time. It is not the big, bad bank, or even the fact that they lost their job. They THINK the world is against them, but that is not the case. Their behavior put them in a dire financial position, and a change in their behavior is the only thing that will bring them out.
If we would behave like Jesus, we would be obedient to God ALWAYS. If we would be obedient to God ALWAYS, we would listen to His sound financial advice contained in the Bible. So why don't we listen to Him and do what He tells us to do with the money we are entrusted with? Because we are conditioned from a very early age to misbehave financially. Did you know there are over 2,000 references to money in the Bible? I believe there are so many references to money because God knew we just would not "get it" when it comes to good stewardship. Why else would He talk about one subject so much?
How we can learn to behave in this area will be covered in future installments. For now, read the above passages, and find others on your own that relate to obedience to God, and begin to condition your mind to be obedient to the one and only true living God and his son, Jesus Christ. You have to walk before you can run; you have to float before you can swim; and you have to be obedient to God before you will find happiness and contentment in your financial situation.
Read more
Jesus Christ tells us to obey everything He has commanded. Matthew 28:20. When Abraham obeyed God, He told Abraham ". . . through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed . . . ." Genesis 23:18. God promised many blessings to His people after he led them out of Egypt if they obeyed him, but He warned against their disobedience. Leviticus 26. God is so adamant about obedience that He commanded parents to have their disobedient son’s stoned to death. Deuteronomy 21:18. With all of these and many more passages, why do we keep ignoring His Word? If we are obedient to God, He trusts us, and like any good parent, He will give us more rope and allow us to go a little further. Jesus was very clear in Luke 16, v. 10, when He said "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much."
Obedience is a behavior–it is something we have to set our mind to do and carry it out. Larry Burkett said financial planning is 80% behavior and 20% head knowledge. I agree with Larry, and I also know from experience that with most people, their behavior is what gets them in trouble every time. It is not the big, bad bank, or even the fact that they lost their job. They THINK the world is against them, but that is not the case. Their behavior put them in a dire financial position, and a change in their behavior is the only thing that will bring them out.
If we would behave like Jesus, we would be obedient to God ALWAYS. If we would be obedient to God ALWAYS, we would listen to His sound financial advice contained in the Bible. So why don't we listen to Him and do what He tells us to do with the money we are entrusted with? Because we are conditioned from a very early age to misbehave financially. Did you know there are over 2,000 references to money in the Bible? I believe there are so many references to money because God knew we just would not "get it" when it comes to good stewardship. Why else would He talk about one subject so much?
How we can learn to behave in this area will be covered in future installments. For now, read the above passages, and find others on your own that relate to obedience to God, and begin to condition your mind to be obedient to the one and only true living God and his son, Jesus Christ. You have to walk before you can run; you have to float before you can swim; and you have to be obedient to God before you will find happiness and contentment in your financial situation.
Reflecting the Power of the Gospel
As Christians, we are given the opportunity to reflect the Gospel in our homes, in the workplace, in the Church and throughout the world. This is both a tremendous privilege and an incredibly daunting task. In a world full of distractions, it is easy to allow ourselves to lose sight of this important responsibility. In this message from Colossians 4:2-6, TJ Freeman highlights the teachings of the Apostle Paul who reminds us to put our Faith into action as we reflect Christ in all we do.
Read more
God's Working Through A Single Man--Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758)
The impact of one godly father, Jonathan Edwards. This famous early American pastor, writer, and one-time president of Princeton University had 11 children.
Of his known male descendants:
More than 300 became pastors, missionaries or theological professors
120 were professors at various universities;
110 became attorneys;
60 were prominent authors;
30 were judges;
14 became presidents of universities or colleges;
3 served in the U.S. Congress;
1 became vice president of the United States.
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