John Piper

Bible Arc dot com, a Review and Infomercial

/ davidsschrock / 6 Comments

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It was a life-changing revelation to me when I discovered that Paul, for example, did not merely make a collection of divine pronouncements, but that he argued. This meant, for me, a whole new approach to Bible reading. No longer did I just read or memorize verses. I sought also to understand and memorize arguments. This involved finding the main point of each literary unit and then seeing how each proposition fit together to unfold and support the main point. (”Biblical Exegesis: Discovering the Meaning of Scriptural Texts,” pg. 18)

If you are familiar with John Piper’s preaching and method of exegesis, than you are probably familiar with his use of “arcing.”  Piper’s statement above reflects the way he reads the NT epistles, and the benefits of systematically interrogating the argument in each NT letter.  To that end, Pastor Piper has commended Daniel Fuller’s method of Biblical Arcing.  In short, it is an excellent means by which students of the Bible can hone in on the author’s intent.  I bring attention to this exegetical device, because recently, an online web site has been developed for the sole purpose of “arcing” New Testament passages.

Biblearc.com has many strengths.  For starters, it furnishes all the tools necessary to complete the arcing process.  It provides helpful sidebars with navigable widgets and buttons that provide great opportunity to use the arcing nomenclature — which is a little foreign for beginners.  It provides Greek, ESV, NASB, KJV translations, as well as the possibility of providing your own translation.  Moreover, it provides more than 2 hours worth of introduction and training.

Another interesting feature that is forthcoming will be the sharing feature, where completed “Arcs” will be posted, and discussion about their accuracy will be moderated on the website.  This could certainly provide some rich exegetical conversations.

While this method of Bible study is excellent in the dense theological material of Paul’s letters or other New Testament Epistles, it is probably less fruitful for NT narrative passages, or Old Testament literature.  In fact, currently this only works with the New Testament.  Though, even in gospel writing, a device like this still helps us microwave Christians to slow down and let the passage simmer in our minds.  Finally, the point-and-click arcing is more cumbersome than what you would do with paper and ink, but with all the tools in front of you, and with help just a few clicks away, this program looks to be very helpful for the novice “Arcer” (like me), not Archer (like Nimrod). 

In sum, the online capabilities of Bible Arc dot com are really quite impressive.  And for only ten dollars you can setup a yearly account that will save your work and come back to it at a later date.  Additionally, you can print your documents to a PDF file for your own record keeping, and with its note-taking possibilities, Bible Arc dot com provides a great platform for personal Bible study or sermon preparation.

Hats off to all those who created this web gem.  If you are serious about Bible studies, I encourage you to drop the ten bucks and avail yourself of this helpful resource.

(HT: Johnathon Bowers) 

Sola Deo Gloria, dss

The Goal of Marriage is the Kingdom of God

/ davidsschrock

THE PURSUIT OF PLEASURE IN THE PLEASURE OF ANOTHER

 

Here is a point to ponder.

Darby Livingston, pastor of Come As You Are Fellowship in Union City, OH, comments on 1 Corinthians 7:29, in his book The Pursuit of Pleasure in the Pleasure of Another: A Christian Hedonist Guide to a Happy Marriage (if you are not familiar with the term Christian Hedonism, coined by John Piper, see Pastor John’s explanation here).  Pastor Livingston writes:

 

 

“From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none”  (1 Cor. 7:29)  What does that mean?  Are we supposed to leave our spouses?  NO! [Capital letters mine]… We’re just supposed to be gospel-centered whether single or married.  The gospel isn’t to be used to build better marriages, though sermons and books abound on that topic.  Just the opposite is true.  Marriage is to be used to expand the Kingdom of God through the gospel.  In saying that men with wives should live as though they had none, Paul is saying that the gospel has invaded this evil world and has flipped past priorities on their heads.  Our priority before believing the gospel may have been to build a comfortable little life with our spouse and pray we live long enough to enjoy the fruit of our labor [Ecclesiastes 9:9 does say as much].  Our priority since believing the gospel must be to use every temporal blessing, including marriage, as the means of advancing God’s Kingdom on earth (Darby Livingston, The Pursuit of Pleasure in the Pursuit of Another [USA: Xulon Press, 2007], 124).

In John Piper-esque fashion, Pastor Livingston challenges comfortable Christian marriages, to count the cost, pick up the cross, and carry the gospel.  This is not optional, this is essential.  Overstating his case, Livingston says that “the gospel isn’t to be used to build better marriages.”  Clearly this is not true in and of itself.  The gospel of Jesus Christ does build better marriages.  However, in context his point is dead on!  Good marriages are not the final goal.  The gospel is!  And marriages are to orient themselves around this reality.  As Jesus says with similar hyperbole, “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:26).  In stating his case this way, Pastor Livingston is simply paraphrasing the words of our Lord, and challenging Christian couples to live lives of discipleship.  

Though, I have only read a few chapters of Livingston’s book, I commend it to you as a book that will help you see the glory of God in your marriage and to live radically for the kingdom of God.  If you are a Christian Hedonist, this book is for you; if you are not yet a Christian Hedonist, I would encourage you all the more to check it out.

Sola Deo Gloria, dss

The Good Insane Concordance Maker

/ davidsschrock

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10).

For three centuries, Alexander Cruden’s Bible concordance has benefitted students of the Bible by helping them research and discover the placement of every word in the King James Bible.  Unlike Bill Mounce’s ESV Concordance which has understandably removed monotonous words like “and,” “but,” “he,” “she,” and the like, Cruden’s commentary counted them all–over 777,000 of them.  And he did this in a time before computers.  This feat is simply amazing!

However, what makes the life and work of Alexander Cruden even more jaw-dropping is the kind of person that he was and the manner of life that he lived.  To put it bluntly he was a “crooked stick.”  John Piper, in an inspiring vingette on his life, records:

Cruden was institutionalized for madness four times in his life. His behavior was often bizarre. [Piper goes on to quote from Tim Larson’s article on Cruden in Books and  Culture]  “On another occasion, Cruden had apparently gone to break up a brawl but ended up spending the best part of an hour admonishing disorderly soldiers not to swear while periodically whacking them on the head with a shovel. He also would propose to women with whom he had established no romantic bond (one such intended he had not even met). Being unable to take no for an answer, he would then turn himself into a persistent nuisance, if not a stalker.”

In sum, the life of Alexander Cruden exemplifies the truth that God uses the weak things of the world to shame the strong, and the foolish to confound the wise (cf. 1 Cor. 1:27ff).  Likewise, his life engenders hope that in every Spirit-indwelt follower of Jesus Christ, God has from the foundation of the world prepared a path of good works mapped out His children (Eph. 2:10).  Piper’s story of the “Good, Insane Corcordance Maker” reminds us of that.  

Surely if we encountered someone like Cruden today we would be tempted to dismiss their efforts or discourage them in such Hurculean tasks, but why?  Perhaps, Cruden’s life can remind each of who think we are “straight,” how crooked and fragile each of our lives are and that only by the grace of God can anyone of do anything that has lasting significance (cf. Psalm 90:15).  As Jesus said, “Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).  Cruden’s testimony is a timeless example of the goodness of God in the life of those who dedicate themselves to Christ’s service.

This week may we have eyes to see and encourage the good works of those “crooked sticks” that might help us all walk straighter.  And may we, who are all truly mishapen by the effects of the Fall, petition God to use us in our weaknesses and idiosyncracies so that lasting fruit may be born (cf. John 15:7-8).

Sola Deo Gloria, dss

Theo-logy: Let us press on to know and love the Lord

/ davidsschrock

When you put the emphasis on the wrong syllable, theology turns from the sanctifying, edifying, doxological study of the Trinitarian God to the self-absorbed, glory-seeking, academic discipline of God-study.  For in the compound word, theos and logos supply two possible centers of focus.  Attention to the former is good and right because it highlights and exalts God in all his manifold perfections; fixation on the latter, though, runs the risk of replacing the proper object of veneration with man’s ability to be scholastic, creative, and clever.   In this, the study of God becomes idolatry with biblical language. Only the first kind of study abides in Philippians 4:8, “Whatever is true, noble, right, pure lovely, and admirable, think about such things.” The second kind of theology corresponds to the spirit of this age, even if its gets the creedal formulations right, because its affections are heterodox.

In short, theology that does not have white-hot worship as its end, covenantal relationship as its context, and love as its fuel will fail in the end.   Pastors, theologians, and seminarians have the occcupational hazard of studying God cold, dry, and hard.  Such cannot be the way to pursue a knowledge of God.  For knowledge must be accompanied by love (1 Cor. 8:1), or with increased knowledge will come greater judgment.  

Consider the words of John Piper on knowing God in the book of Hosea, as he writes on the relationship between sexual purity and knowledge of God:

I think it is virtually impossible to read this (Hos. 2:14-16, 19-20) and then honestly say that knowing God, as God intends to be known by his people in the new covenant, simply means mental awareness or understanding or acquaintance with God.  Not in a million years is that what “knowing God” means here.  This is the knowing of a lover, not a scholar.  A scholar can be a lover.  But a scholar–or a pastor–doesn’t know God until he is a lover.  You can know about God by research; but until the researcher is ravished by what he sees, he doesn’t know God for who he really is.  And that is one great reason why many pastors can become so impure.  They don’t know God–the true, massive, glorious, gracious biblical God.  The humble intimacy and brokenhearted ecstasy–giving fire to the facts–is not there (John Piper, “Sex and the Supremacy of Christ” in Sex and the Supremacy of Christ, edited by Justin Taylor and John Piper [2005], 32).

Father in heaven, make us lovers, not just scholars.  Give fire to the facts.  Help all those who study your Word, become more deeply in love and loving.  Keep your pastors pure by giving them the gift of yourself.  And may we who pursue academic studies of You never settle for erudite answers only; may we always press on to know you–inquisitively, innocently, intensely, and intimately (Hosea 6:3).

Weekend Websites: Audio Resources from Desiring God and 9 Marks

/ davidsschrock

One of the most edifying activities that I have engaged in since becoming a Christian has been listening to sermons, biographies, and interviews while driving, working at home, or doing monotonous computer work.  When I was a church janitor in Chattanooga, TN, I would often and repeatedly listen to John Piper’s expository messages as I vacuumed the church.  On many solitary cross-country drives, Dr. Piper was again my tour guide.  He introduced me to so many heroes of the faith through his yearly biographical messages from his pastor’s conference.  His voice still reverberates in my mind, even today, as I think about his inspiring messages on Spurgeon, Brainerd, Luther, Owen, Paton, Calvin, and others.  

More recently, I have begun listening to the Mark Dever’s audio interviews.  I await with anticipation the first day of every month, when 9 Marks Ministries (typically) releases new interviews with pastors, theologians, and church leaders.  These  engaging and lively conversations have clarified my thinking on many theological and ecclesial matters and they always rekindle my desire to serve the Christ’s church.  My favorite interview is definitely C.J. Mahaney’s interview with Mark Dever.  If you know anything about C.J., you can understand why.  If you are experienicng any kind of depression in life or ministry, this interview will surely lift your soul.  (In the spirit of these interviews, I even attempted to conduct one myself at SBTS with Dr. Jonathan Pennington, in an interview sponsored by the Theology School Council at Southern Seminary).

With all that said, I commend these two resources as this weekend’s website(s): Desiring God’s biographies and 9 Marks interviews.  These treasure troves are filled with wisdom and they are conducted in a format that I have found can be received and enjoyed in a variety of settings.  Unlike sermons, I can listen to them while doing a variety of things.  For me, sermons take much more effort to process and apply, and so they require a healthy measure of reflection and repentance.  These audio other audio formats–biography and interview– may at times call for such response, but typically they are more readily processible as you go about your daily affairs–mindlessly working on the computer, driving, having dominion over your home (i.e. chores), or vacuuming the church.  I have benefitted immensely from these audio resources, and I hope you will do the same.  In a world that beckons us to be conformed to its standards, meditating on these edifying conversations can be a salubrious antidote to its corrupting effects and a tremedous means of spiritual and ministerial growth.  I hope you will join me in listening.

Sola Deo Gloria, dss