What is an Idol?

When you think of idols, what comes to mind? The golden calf? Asherah poles? Baal? In Biblical days, idols were often physical representations of various false gods that were worshipped at the time. Today idols look a little different. Here’s how Tim Keller defines idolatry:

“… anything more important to you than God, anything that absorbs your imagination more than God, anything that you seek to give you what only God can give. A counterfeit god is anything so central and essential to your life that, should you lose it, your life would hardly be worth living. An idol has such a controlling position in your heart that you can spend most of your passion and energy, your emotional and financial resources on it without another thought.”

So, if you thought that idols were a thing of the past, think again. We’re all still prone to idol-making. In fact, the theologian John Calvin said, “the human heart is a perpetual idol factory.” Idols might be money, sex or power. They may even by good things like our children, our spouse, or our home. So, keep things in the right perspective. Our primary devotion must be to God. We may love others and be grateful for all the good things we experience in life. These things come from God, and we must not make them our gods.

“ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17

For more about idols see these posts:

What’s Your Idol?

Three Mile an Hour God by Kosuke Koyama — Book Review

Practicing Thankfulness by Sam Crabtree–Book Review

Who is This Jesus?

“This is Issac, the well-beloved Son of his Father, who was offered in sacrifice, and yet for all that did not succumb to the power of death. This is the Good Shepherd, Jacob, taking such great care of the sheep of which he had charge. This is the Good and Pitying Brother, Joseph, who in his glory was not ashamed to recognize his Brothers, contemptible and object as they were. This is the Great Priest and Bishop Melchizedek, who has made an eternal sacrifice, once for all men. This is the Sovereign Law-giver Moses, writing his law, by his spirit on the tablets of our hearts. This is the Faithful Captain and Guide Joshua, to conduct us to the Promised Land. This is the Noble and Virtuous King David, subduing under his hand every rebellious power. This is the Magnificent and Triumphant King Solomon, governing his people n peace and prosperity. This is the Strong and Mighty Samson, who by his death overwhelmed all his enemies. And even every good which can be imagined or desired is found in one alone, Jesus Christ.”

John Calvin

What a good reminder that the New Testament is hidden in the Old Testament!

For more about John Calvin quotes see this posts:

A Little Book on the Christian Life by John Calvin — Book Review

A Little Book on the Christian Life by John Calvin — Book Review

This short book is actually part of Calvin’s famous theological work, The Institutes of the Christian Religion. In it he addresses some of the practical questions believers have about living out their faith. The five chapters are:

1. Scripture’s Call to Christian Living
2. Self-denial in the Christian Life
3. Bearing Our Cross Is a Part of Self-Denial
4. Meditation on Our Future Life
5. How the Present Life and Its Comforts Should Be Used

The text is very readable, and still relevant to Christians today. Although I am a Lutheran, not a Calvinist, I found nothing objectionable in the theology presented.

P.S. I chose to read this book as part of my congregation’s reading challenge — Read With Me. It fulfills the category of read a book by an author who shares your initials! It’s was an unlikely pick, but one I unexpectedly enjoyed.

VERDICT: 5 STARS

For more about John Calvin see these posts:

A Quote from John Calvin

Know God — Know Thyself

Predestination continued ….

Unlikely and Unexpected Love

“Love of neighbor is not dependent upon manner of men but looks to God … The Lord commands all men without exception ‘to do good.’ …Yet the great part of them are most unworthy if they be judged by their own merit. But here Scripture helps in the best way when it teaches that we are not to consider that men merit of themselves but to look upon the image of God in all men, to which we owe all honor and love … Therefore, whatever man you meet who needs your aid, you have no reason to refuse to help him.”

John Calvin

For more about loving others see these posts:

Loving People Who are Hard to Love by Joyce Meyer–Book Review

Love the Unlovable

You Don’t Have to Wait for Gods’ Love!

Know God — Know Thyself

“The knowledge of God and the knowledge of self always go hand in hand. There is no true knowledge of self apart from the knowledge of God. The doctrine of God shows us the distance between a transcendent God and His created image-bearers, and it simultaneously draws us toward imitation.”

John Calvin

For more Christian quotes see these posts:

A Quote from John Calvin

A Quote about the Reformation

Martin Luther Quote about Wisdom #2

Every Secret Thing by Ann Tatlock–Book Review

I’m not always a fan of Christian fiction (often it’s too superficial and predictable), but I truly enjoyed this book. For one thing, I learned a new phrase, which is always a plus for a “word” person: sensus divinitatis. It means the natural capacity of people to perceive God and is particularly associated with the writings of John Calvin.

This sensus divinitatis is a theme which threads through the entire plot. The main character, Elizabeth Gunnar is an English teacher who returns to teach at a private school in Delaware, the same school she graduated from years ago. There she meets a special student and connects with some of her former classmates and teachers. In the process, she is able to resolve a troubling event from her past. Her faith, and the faith of others deepens as they learn to recognize the presence of God in daily life.

There are many references to books and authors that will delight the English majors among us (like me). The characters are realistically portrayed and engaging. It was a quick and entertaining read.

VERDICT: 5 STARS. A charming vacation read!

For more Christian fiction reviews see these posts:

pearl in the sand by Tessa Afshar–Book Review

a long time comin’ by Robin W. Pearson — Book Review

Jack by Marilynne Robinson– Book Review

Predestination continued ….

Predestination, is the Christian doctrine that God has eternally chosen those whom he intends to save. Predestination has been especially associated with John Calvin and the Reformed tradition.

This is a continuation from my post yesterday. It’s taken from a sermon given by our Pastor, my husband, explaining this difficult word.

This (coming to saving faith) will happen because of a call to faith, a call from the words of Scripture, the words of the Gospel, the Good News that Christ bore their punishment and they could then experience eternal joy. And the Holy Spirit, God Himself, opens the hearts of those who are predestined to believe the Gospel, to know that Christ did indeed die for them and that He was raised for them. What a wonderful thing it is to have God bring us to such understanding! If you have faith in Christ, you didn’t do it on your own, you didn’t work it out by yourself– no indeed, you received it from God and in receiving it you were justified, made right with God, no longer estranged, but now embraced as an adopted child and heir.

Even more than that, you have been glorified. In a tiny little way, we experience the glory that will be ours in heaven when we come into contact with God, when we experience His grace, when we feel His presence, whe we trust in Christ alone. What a glory that is, but that will pale in comparison to what God has waiting for us in eternity. Many have gone before us, but there is still room for us and for all those whom He is calling today around the world, and for those whom He has predestined before Christ’s return. What a wonderful and awesome thing to be chosen by the living God for eternal life.

For more on salvation see:

Predestination?

The True Cost of Salvation

Saved by Grace

Who were (are?) the Puritans?

Most Americans know little to nothing about who the Puritans were and what they taught….and a major part of what people do know is wrong!  Puritanism was nothing more or less than an English expression of the doctrines of the Reformation as formulated by Luther and his associates and other Reformed figures such as Calvin, Bucer and Zwingli.

For Lutherans it is interesting to compare Puritan thought with Lutheran Pietism–a movement which has profoundly affected Lutheranism in the United States.  The Association of Free Lutheran Congregations has its background in that Pietist movement brought here in the 18th and 19th centuries by immigrants.  When we look at the two movements (Puritanism and Pietism) we can see the relationship is not just between two past movements, but has to do with what we believe, teach and confess today at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Leitersburg.

Both Puritans and the Pietists sought to teach and experience a faith that was truly guiding their lives, the kind of faith we say we desire today.

If you are interested in learning more about the Puritans, my husband, Pastor Terry Culler, will be teaching a continuing education class through Shepherd University via Zoom.  The class will begin on Wednesday, March 17 from 3:30PM-5PM and will continue for 6 weeks at the same day and time.  To learn more follow the link below:

Shepherd University | Lifelonglearning

You can also contact Pastor Culler at St. Paul’s at 301-739-5443 or email him at freelutherans@myactv.net.

For other posts about the Puritans see:

Heaven is a World of Love by Jonathan Edwards — Book Review

An Introduction to John Owen by Crawford Gribben–Book Review

Beyond Stateliest Marble by Douglas Wilson — Book Review

For more on pietism see:

What is Pietism?

Lutheran Pietism

 

 

The Gift of Wisdom Part 3

Some people have a spiritual gift of Wisdom. This gift is such that they have inhaled the Word breathed out by God and can use it to direct and assist others in their spiritual lives. All of God’s people have gifts, gifts which differ from person to person. This is only one of them. But it is important for us to be able to recognize such people for they are folks to whom the rest of us should cling tightly. I know I’ve known several people with the gift of wisdom and their advice and counsel has made my life better. Those who can use God’s Word to bring righteousness into the lives of others are a true gift to the Church.

Most of us, however, do not have this particular and special spiritual gift of wisdom. But that does not mean that we cannot become wise in a biblical sense. There really is no excuse for the people of God not to live wisely before the world; for all that we need to do so is right in front of us, it’s no great secret requiring special learning or greater than usual brain power. That was the heresy of the Gnostics. Rather it’s right here in front of us, right here in the Bible. We don’t have to devise a new way of life or seek out some guru on a mountain top. We don’t have to attend college or get some self help book off a shelf. We won’t find out how to live wisely on television. We will find it here in the Word of God that David so praised. Pick up your Bibles and read, that’s it.

We will sometimes hear someone referred to as a theologian and we think of a specially trained individual who has deep knowledge in the ways of God. But that’s not necessarily true. Theology simply means the study of God, and it is a study in which each and every one of us can engage. All of God’s people are, or at least ought to be, theologians. We ought to be people who dedicate our lives to studying what has been revealed to us about the nature of God and about His will for us on this side of eternity.

One of the great gifts handed down to us by the Reformers such as Luther and Calvin is the concept of the priesthood of all believers. The Reformers didn’t make this doctrine up, but they recovered it after centuries in which the concept had receded and the idea that a special group of people called priests were necessary for salvation had grown. Simply put, the priesthood of all believers means that you and I do not need someone else to bring us into relationship with God, Christ has already accomplished that at Calvary We can go directly to Him because He has come directly to us through the Holy Spirit who indwells us even as we indwell Christ. The chosen people of God need neither priest nor saint in heaven to intercede for us for Christ does all the intercession necessary.

But the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers, like all benefits from above, requires something from us—it requires that we be diligent both in seeking wisdom and in living wisely based upon that hagia sophia, that Holy Wisdom that comes down from above and makes us to be full and living witnesses of the truth that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of God the Father unto all eternity.

False Teaching

I would like to hear what others think about how to identify false teaching.  What are your thoughts on this Lutheran ladies and readers?  Do you agree with John Calvin that it’s easy to identify?  Please post and comment with your thoughts.